Best Management Practices (BMPs) for Beekeepers Pollinating Agricultural Crops elearning modules

Module 6: Best Management Practices For Business Management

Beekeeping is an evolving profession. Beekeeping today is a challenging business.

We can start by understanding this simple concept: Be professional in your beekeeper/grower interactions. Let’s get more specific!

Use a Contract (See a Sample Pollination Contract at under ‘Downloads’). Interactions

I think we should set our pollination fees according to what we perceive to be the highest going rate out there, right? Well, not exactly. Determine pollination fees that are realistic to your operating costs.

Be dependable with the timing of hive drops and pick-ups. Interactions Be visible to your growers. Honey, I hope I made a good impression!

Next, there are some well-known methods to being more efficient in your business management style. Let’s discover what they are!

Streamline your business to manage resources wisely. Efficiency What if things don’t happen as you planned? Things do go wrong, often out of our hands. What do we have control over?

Be prepared by developing contingency plans for the unexpected. As they say, “expect the unexpected”. These plans are not possible without the keeping of good records. Efficiency How else can we improve practices in order to be more efficient? Clue: Look in your apiary, what do you see?

Efficiency Improve practices by being aware and on top of everything that is occurring in your operation. Use quality, well-maintained equipment. Segue: Knowledge is power!

Learn something new everyday!

Successful beekeeping is a rapidly changing art and science! Keep Learning How do we stay informed of, and enlightened in, new cutting edge ideas and concepts in this growing field?

Join local, state, regional and national organizations (Bee of course). Keep Learning Attend local, state, regional and national conferences, as well.

Access the internet, watch for reliable sources of information. Keep Learning Regularly check the CAP project website for new information at

Subscribe to bee journals. How can we share this knowledge and help others to keep learning? Keep Learning Maybe even read a contemporary book!

Beekeeping needs ideas and leadership to build a prosperous future. So, get involved, spread the word, help others understand what you know and have experienced; more to the point……. Give Back

Mentor new and young beekeepers. Support and contribute to bee research to ensure a sustainable pollination industry. Give Back

Any questions? Want more information? Visit Thanks for your attention!