When you think about livestock production in Iowa, you most likely think about cattle and hogs, chickens, maybe sheep, goats, and even fish, but I bet you don’t think about bees. Yes, there is bee livestock production. And we’re gonna find out what the buzz is about.
Jason Foley and his wife Shannon run Honey Hollow Apiary and Gardens in Indianola. Jason is also the President of the Iowa Honey Producers Association. While bees mainly produce honey as a cash product, Jason considers himself a livestock producer, because He breeds Queens for other colonies.
Just like any good livestock producer, Foley does not want to see any crossbreeding with genetics that aren’t of his line. Therefore, he gives his queen bees to some of the hobbyists to keep Russian bees the primary breed in that area.
Just because he’s in the livestock and Queen producing business doesn’t mean that there isn’t honey. That’s what bees do. So every August, he takes what honey is left before the end of the season, and markets it through their store.
Jason and I will also talk later this week about agriculture and its relationship with bee producers. You can learn more about Honey Hollow and the Iowa Honey Producers Association by visiting their websites.
