Flatland Honey Farm

08/02/2026

☀️ The Toughest Time of the Year for West Texas Bees

If you've kept bees in West Texas for any length of time, you know that July and August aren't just hot... they're survival months.

Triple-digit temperatures become the norm. And this year has been no different with the late rains, it was already hot and we still haven't seen a lot of blooming for bees to draw from.

But bees respond the only way they know how. Bees are going to bee.

You'll see them bearding on the front of the hive—not because they're getting ready to swarm (hopefully not), but because they're trying to cool their home. Thousands of worker bees leave the inside of the hive so air can circulate while others fan their wings nonstop to keep the brood nest at the perfect temperature.

Think about that for a moment...

Instead of collecting nectar and making honey, an entire workforce shifts its focus to air conditioning the hive.

Then comes August.

The blooms begin to disappear. Come on cotton if you're out here with us on the Caprock. The rain often stays away. What beekeepers call "the dearth" settles in.

Little rain means little nectar.
Little nectar means hungry bees.

Strong colonies can quickly consume the honey they worked so hard to produce in the spring just to survive the heat.

👉 This is the time of year when good beekeepers become great beekeepers. Or so we like to think. The bees are always in control.

Watch your colonies closely.
Monitor food stores.
Provide a reliable water source.
And don't be afraid to feed if your bees need the extra help.

Remember, there's no prize for letting a colony starve.

Sometimes the best honey harvest you'll ever have is the colony that's healthy enough to make it to next spring.

🐝 What are your bees doing right now? Are you seeing heavy bearding, or are they still bringing in nectar? Share your observations in the comments—we all learn from one another!

Send a message to learn more

06/29/2026

We hate politics but it's forced on us more and more every day. We are in an area prone to draught and a lot of moves our politicians make leave us scratching our heads. What will this data center to those of us trying to manage livestock? Yes. Bees are livestock. Yes, we know 'they' say their water is going to be recycled. Something is rotten in Denmark with the number of these going up in Texas alone.



https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1GM8ozJSoZ/

The city is seeking community input on large-scale data centers, and they want you to say your piece. The public meeting will be held on July 7 at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center. Don't miss out!

06/29/2026

It has been a strange year. Flatland Honey Farm has had some of the same frustrations with our hives this year. Shepherd's Honey explains some of the highs and lows of what it's like taking care of these amazing little creatures.

My wife and I have a Mini Goldendoodle named Bristol. Her Golden Retriever traits make her eager to please. In fact, I'm convinced her goal in life is to make us happy. The Poodle part of her DNA makes her wicked smart, including her astonishing emotional intelligence. If there

06/19/2026

Ask us how we know.


https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1BVwpykiqi/

06/13/2026

🐝 JUNE – The Swarm Story 🐝

You walk outside and hear it before you see it.

A loud buzzing fills the air as thousands of bees swirl overhead. Maybe they've clustered on a tree branch. Maybe they're hanging out in your meter box. Or maybe, heaven forbid, they've decided the wall of your house looks like prime real estate.

Your first thought?

Panic.

Your second?

"Who can help me get these bees relocated safely?" Please, don't call Terminix.

For beekeepers, though, a swarm brings a different mix of emotions—equal parts excitement and hesitation. Swarms come with opportunities, challenges, and more than a few surprises. Just ask any beekeeper about their first cut-out or hive rescue. The stories are always memorable. Shepherd's Honey

Here's the thing: a swarm isn't a sign of failure.

It's how honey bees... Bee.

A colony may have outgrown its space, found more favorable conditions, or become strong enough to lickety split and start anew. In the natural world, that's success.

Of course, beekeeping has a way of keeping us humble. One day you're celebrating a booming hive, and the next a West Texas windstorm has blown a lid off, leaving you dealing with a dead-out. The highs can be high, and the lows can be low.

Then again, sometimes the bees surprise you in the best ways.

You rescue a swarm, get them settled. Somehow they lose their queen. The bees do what bees do—they make several queen cells. You split those queen cells into two boxes with resources, hoping for the best. Lo and behold!! Both colonies have successfully mated queens and are thriving!!

That's beekeeping.

It's unpredictable. It's frustrating. It's rewarding. And it's never boring.

The real question isn't whether the bees will surprise you.

They will.

The question is: are you ready when the bees decide to 'bee'?

Because no matter how many years you've been keeping them, these incredible creatures always have something new to teach us.

Beekeeping for beginners Caprock Beekeepers Association

05/29/2026

There is nothing more true.

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1cPupq7RkD/

05/26/2026

And just like that—everything starts to change.

The bees know it before we do.

Sometimes we get a little rain… and suddenly it’s game on.

Fresh blooms begin showing up. Colonies pick up speed. Foragers start bringing in more pollen and nectar. Hives that were barely holding steady suddenly feel alive again.

👉 THIS is the window West Texas beekeepers wait for.

If conditions continue lining up, May can become the single most important month for honey production all year out here on the South Plains.

But here’s what new beekeepers quickly learn:

When the flow starts… it moves FAST.

Supers can fill before you realize it. Colonies can outgrow space almost overnight. Swarm pressure builds quickly.

👉 If you’re not ready NOW… your bees may make decisions for you.

Because in West Texas, we don’t always get long, gradual springs.

And when that happens?

You don’t get a redo on May.

05/24/2026

One in every 3 bites of food we eat is pollinated by a bee. https://youtu.be/Mej2usrRCl0?si=dGqVVKWvvfeBIKGI

Caprock Beekeepers Association

National Geographic Explorer Bertie Gregory explores the extraordinary lives of bees — among the planet’s most important animals. Over three years, special c...

05/22/2026

Look who made the Agrilife blog. Props to Volleman's Family Farm https://agrilifetoday.tamu.edu/2026/05/20/vollemans-family-farm-a-legacy-of-loyalty/ Shout out should garner some ice cream out to the Hub City of West Texas, soon?

Three generations of the Volleman family have spent 30 years building a Texas dairy brand their customers trust.

05/19/2026

A huge shout out and heartfelt THANK YOU to all of our followers and supporters here at Flatland Honey Farm! 🐝🍯

We truly hope this post finds you well and enjoying the blessings of the season. As we continue learning, growing, and tending to our hives, we’re excited about the possibility of bringing you some of the best homespun honey products around if/when we get into production this year.

Our goal is simple — provide you with the very best that “our” bees can bring. And honestly… they’re not really ours anyway. We just get the privilege of caring for them on borrowed time. 🐝

Thank you for following along on this journey, supporting local beekeeping, and sharing in the appreciation of these incredible little pollinators.

Best to all from Flatland Honey Farm! 🌻🍯