Shared Interest Groups

While many beekeepers belong to multiple groups, we feel these definitions help us to focus on the materials, content, and efforts of the Texas Beekeepers Association to provide more value to members across all interests. Our interests often overlap and we feel that a collaborative approach to solving problems and providing resources serves the greater good for all groups.

TBA will use Shared Interest Groups as a way to improve communication about relevant topics, provide diverse educational opportunities throughout the year, and encourage collaboration and communication across various interest groups. 

  • Professional Beekeeper – Beekeeper that makes a living in the bee industry.
  • Commercial Pollination – Beekeepers who move colonies – either locally or regionally to pollinate crops.  Topics could include issues with logistics, licensing, insurance, broker involvement, etc.  Could include beekeepers who don’t yet do commercial contracts but would like to in the future – maybe leads to smaller beekeepers pooling hives to provide pollination services. Managing multiple apiaries.
  • Honey Producers – Beekeepers whose main focus is producing honey – for selling themselves or to Packers for resale.
  • Honey Packers – Beekeepers licensed as a “producer” with the State of Texas, buys honey from other beekeepers for bottling and selling; and those interested.
  • Queen Rearing – Beekeepers who raise and sell Queens and those who would like to raise and sell Queens.
  • Package & Nuc Producers – Any beekeepers who sell packages and Nucs and those who want to learn/begin producing/selling bees.
  • Professional Bee Removal – Beekeepers who do removals and those who want to learn/begin doing cutouts and removals.
  • Small-Scale Beekeeping – Beekeepers with typically less than ~24 hives. Often urban or backyard beekeepers.
  • Urban Beekeeping – Beekeepers in urban settings – city and HOA regulations, appeasing neighbors, liability concerns, etc.
  • Pollinator Advocacy – persons interested in active support for protecting pollinators through legislation limiting chemicals harmful to pollinators, educating others on the harm chemicals can do to pollinators,
  • Natural Beekeeping – Beekeepers who practice IPM but stop at chemical or synthetic treatments. 
  • Bee Researcher – Scientists, students, and researchers that seek to better understand bees and provide valuable information to the bee industry and beekeepers through the scientific process.
  • Growers & Farmers – stakeholders in the bee industry who care about colony help and are seeking better practices to improve overall bee health on their land.

As a Texas Beekeepers Association member, you will have an opportunity to update your member profile to include your interests. This helps us to have a better understanding of our membership interests and we appreciate you taking the time to share yours with us.