Beekeeping in NSW: Managing Varroa, Small Hive Beetle & Building HiveCast AI

Written By Jamie Martin

What We’ve Been Up To (And What We’re Building)

The last few months in the apiary haven’t been about standing still—they’ve been about adapting.

Between shifting weather patterns, increasing pest pressure, and lessons learnt the hard way, we’ve been making changes to how we manage our bees here in Northern NSW.

Adapting to Conditions in Northern NSW

One of the biggest recent changes has been moving hives out of Newrybar.

We began seeing:

  • Rising small hive beetle (SHB) pressure

  • Increased colony stress

  • Conditions that no longer suited strong hive growth

Rather than push through, we made the decision to relocate and consolidate at McLeans Ridges.

This wasn’t about abandoning a site—it was about responding to real conditions.

Varroa Management – Monitoring More, Guessing Less

Varroa mites remain one of the biggest challenges for Australian beekeepers.

Recent mite wash results:

  • McLeans Ridges: 1 mite

  • Codrington: 0 mites

While encouraging, we know how quickly mite levels can change.

One key lesson:

Mite drop alone is not enough to assess infestation levels.

We now focus on:

  • Regular mite washes

  • Consistent hive inspections

  • Detailed record keeping

This shift has helped us make more informed decisions and avoid relying on assumptions.

Small Hive Beetle in NSW – A Constant Pressure

Small hive beetle continues to be a major issue in coastal NSW.

Our current focus includes:

  • Maintaining strong colonies

  • Reducing excess hive space

  • Monitoring beetle pressure through trays

  • Adjusting management based on humidity and rainfall

We’re seeing firsthand how environmental conditions influence SHB outbreaks.

Introducing HiveCast AI (Now in Beta)

Alongside our beekeeping, we’ve been developing HiveCast AI—a tool designed to help beekeepers better understand hive conditions.

HiveCast AI is currently in beta and being tested in our own apiaries.

It’s helping us:

  • Interpret weather patterns in relation to hive health

  • Identify small hive beetle risk periods

  • Plan inspections around weather conditions

  • Begin assessing varroa resilience and colony strength

This isn’t about replacing experience—it’s about supporting better decisions.

What We’re Building Right Now

HiveCast AI is still evolving. Current features in development include:

  • A 14-day beekeeping decision calendar

  • Real-time local weather condition tracking

  • Early-stage varroa resilience scoring

  • Hive inspection and action recording systems

  • Simple explanations for daily recommendations

Everything is being tested in real apiaries before it goes further.

The Future of Beekeeping Decisions

Beekeeping in Australia is changing.

With varroa now present and environmental pressures increasing, decision-making is becoming more important than ever.

HiveCast AI is being built to help turn:

  • Weather data

  • Hive observations

  • Pest pressure

into clearer, practical guidance.

Interested in HiveCast AI?

HiveCast AI is currently in beta.

If you’re interested in following along or being part of early testing, feel free to get in touch.

Final Thoughts

Every season brings new challenges.

Right now, the focus is simple:

Understand the conditions, and adapt accordingly.

That’s shaping how we keep bees—and what we’re building alongside them.

Jamie Martin
Next

When the Bees Tell You It’s Time to Move On (Part 2)