Johnston’s Honeybee Farm in Eaton, NY has made significant strides in developing a disease resistant strain of bees, well suited to surviving in the Northeast United States.  Our bees are resistant to both tracheal mite and the external parasitic mite, varroa jacobsonii.  We have not used miticides in our hives since Autumn of 2003 when we treated only part of the operation and realized these drugs were no longer necessary.

Johnston’s Honeybee Farm has also originated two innovative new beehives: the Vertical Partition Two Colony Hive and the Combination Queen Rearing Nucleus and Comb Honey Hive.  We have received two Farmer Grants to study these hives from USDA’s Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program. (SARE) and participated in a SARE Partnership Grant with Penn State to also study the Two Colony Hive.  These two new hives promise to allow Northeast beekeepers to produce their own bees that are better adapted to produce and survive in their own local areas.

Johnston’s Honeybee Farm produces nucleus hives (nucs), brood, queen cells, queens, honey, and pollination services.  We hope to begin selling bee equipment in the Spring of 2010.  Our bees are mite resistant but also mild mannered, winter hardy, and good producers.  Our honey is also mild mannered – our sweet soils produce a light colored, mild flavored honey that people really like.