Applied Beekeeping in the Southeast United States
Drawing on more than 50 years of hands-on beekeeping experience, David MacFawn shares practical techniques, management strategies, and financial insights for beekeepers throughout the Southeast United States. Written for advanced beginners through experienced professionals, this second edition combines field-tested methods with updated research and current industry developments. Because all beekeeping is local, not every technique presented will apply in every region. However, each recommendation is offered for consideration and adaptation to local conditions. In addition to hive management, the book explores financial planning and business practices essential for starting, managing, and growing a successful beekeeping operation. Many businesses fail because of inadequate financial controls and planning; this book helps beekeepers avoid those pitfalls. Organized as a practical reference, readers can use the table of contents to quickly locate topics of interest and study them individually, or read the book from cover to cover for a comprehensive understanding of modern beekeeping practices. This fully updated second edition includes expanded discussions on hive ventilation and insulation, propolis management, eight-frame versus ten-frame hives, treatment-free beekeeping, Tropilaelaps mites, current financial data, and the latest information available on the Yellow-Legged Hornet (Vespa velutina) as of May 2026. Readers should have completed at least a basic beekeeping course and be familiar with standard beekeeping terminology.