Understanding Australia’s Seasonal Flow Cycles For serious and commercial beekeepers, maximising honey production begins with a clear understanding of Australia’s highly variable seasonal nectar flows. Unlike more predictable climates, Australian conditions can shift rapidly due to rainfall patterns, drought, bushfire recovery and regional flora cycles. Successful operators plan well ahead, aligning hive strength and placement […]
Honey 101: Types, FlavoUrs, and Health Benefits If you’ve ever looked at your latest harvest and marvelled at how different it is from the last, you’re not alone. Across Australia, every jar tells a story of landscape, season, and hive health. And for those of us dedicated to the craft, understanding what shapes those flavours […]
Beekeeping Equipment Essentials: What Every Australian Apiarist Needs For serious beekeepers, the difference between a smooth season and a stressful one often comes down to preparation and the tools you use every day. This week on the blog, we’re diving into the essential equipment every Australian apiarist should have in their operation. Whether you’re focused […]
Organic Beekeeping in Australia: Is It Possible? Organic honey carries a certain prestige, both at home and overseas. But for Australian beekeepers, turning that ideal into reality is far from straightforward. We’ve taken a closer look at what it means for commercial operators to pursue organic certification here in Australia. From the realities of forage […]
latest articles Swarming Season: A Golden Opportunity for Beekeepers During swarm season, beekeepers across Australia are watching the skies and the trees for the tell-tale signs of honeybee colonies on the move. Whether you’re keen to grow your hive numbers or simply want to understand swarm behaviour better, we’ve put together a practical, experience-based guide […]
NEWS Life Membership Awarded to Lindsay Bourke B-QUAL is pleased to announce that we were able to present Lindsay Bourke with his Life membership award at the 2025 AHBIC AGM in Adelaide on 5th July in Adelaide. The award was presented in appreciation of Lindsay’s work in helping to establish B-QUAL and his subsequent terms on […]
LATEST ARTICLES Protecting Pollinators: Why Bees Matter to Our Ecosystem Sometimes, the smallest creatures make the biggest difference, and their well-being is closely tied to ours. In our latest blog, we explore the often overlooked heroes of our environment, the challenges they face, and how we can all take part in supporting a more resilient […]
Celebrating Don Muir’s Dedication to BQUAL From his early beekeeping days pollinating fruit trees to his pivotal roles, including Co-Managing Director, Don’s journey has significantly shaped our organization. In a special blog Q&A, Don shares his insights on the importance of quality assurance, the challenges of industry awareness, and his proudest achievements, such as the […]
As we delve into the fascinating journey and insights of a long-standing figure within the BQUAL community, it’s paramount to begin by expressing our sincere gratitude to Don for his unwavering commitment and invaluable contributions over the years. Don’s dedication has been instrumental in shaping BQUAL into the respected organisation it is today, and his […]
Keeping your colony healthy Regular hive inspections are the key to maintaining a strong, healthy bee colony. By checking for signs of disease, monitoring the queen’s productivity, and assessing food stores, you can address potential problems before they become serious threats. However, conducting an inspection requires skill, patience, and a gentle hand. Whether you’re a […]
Recreational Beekeeping Conference Better Beekeeping Basics to Biosecurity Where: Hume Global Learning Centre44 Macedon St, Sunbury VIC 3429, Australia When Saturday 29th March 2025 Program and speakers Subject Speaker Honeybee viruses Emily Remnant (via Zoom) Molecular testing for AFB Olivia Ducommun-Dit-Verron Varroa update Elizabeth Frost Speech-to-text record keeping Liz Barbour Chemistry of honey Liz Barbour […]
Fire, Flooding and Invasive Pests – Beekeeping Resilience in ‘The Lucky Country A story of resilience and Determination 1400 beehives were destroyed by fire, then within a year another 700 to flooding, soon after that small hive beetle wiped out 500 more, and then close to another 1000 fell victim to the varroa mite incursion. […]