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NorCal Nectar

NorCal Nectar Journal

Raw honey, honey sticks & beekeeping

Buying guides, serving maths, recipes and hive management — written to answer one question at a time, with the sources shown.

4 articles · page 1 of 1

Beekeeping & Sustainability

Amitraz-Resistant Varroa Mites: 2026 Treatment Plans

Amitraz-resistant varroa mites are now confirmed in collapsed colonies across at least 19 U.S. states. Apivar alone is no longer a survival strategy. This 2026 treatment plan covers diagnostic resistance signs, rotation calendars built around oxalic acid extended release, the new RNAi product Vadescana, and the resistant bee stocks worth requeening with.

13 min read

Beekeeping & Sustainability

Colony Collapse Crisis 2026: What Record Bee Losses Mean and How You Can Help

Beekeeping & Sustainability

Colony Collapse Crisis 2026: What Record Bee Losses Mean and How You Can Help

The 2024-2025 season recorded the highest honeybee colony losses since tracking began — 55.6% of managed colonies gone. This guide breaks down what's driving colony collapse disorder heading into 2026, the real-world consequences for food prices and agriculture, and concrete steps you can take to help reverse the decline.

13 min read

Beekeeping & Sustainability

Varroa Mite Treatment Timing: When to Treat, How to Monitor & What's Changing in 2026

Beekeeping & Sustainability

Varroa Mite Treatment Timing: When to Treat, How to Monitor & What's Changing in 2026

Colony losses hit 55.6% in 2024-2025, and mistimed varroa treatments are a leading driver. This seasonal guide covers monitoring methods, treatment windows, the amitraz resistance crisis, and new tools like RNAi and disease-resistant bee stocks that are reshaping mite management in 2026.

14 min read

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