An apiarist, often called a beekeeper, maintains and manages colonies of honeybees for the production of honey as well as to provide pollination services. Beekeepers will also construct hives, replace combs and collects and package any hive products including honey, beeswax, and pollen. They must maintain strict control over diseases and pests and identify and report hive health concerns. Responsibilities: Beekeepers are responsible for maintaining colonies of healthy bees for pollination and production of honey, collecting and packaging any hive products including honey, beeswax, and pollen, making decisions on yards, treatment, splits, honey harvesting, and all other beekeeping activities, building and managing queen rearing operations, ensuring breeding yards are kept at an optimal level of production, maintaining strict control over diseases and pests, identifying and reporting hive health concerns, marketing honey products to consumers or distributors, preparing colonies for both production and wintering during season changes, and participating in ongoing research and development trials.
Education Requirements:
Recommended High School Courses:
Agriculture Education
Biology
Mathematics
Natural Resources
Horticulture
Education/Training:
High School Diploma
Associate's or Bachelor's Degree in Entomology or Biology required for research or management positions
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