BeeWhere App Maps Bee Hive Location

BeeWhere App Maps Bee Hive Location

Tim Hammerich
Tim Hammerich
News Reporter
With California Ag Today, I’m Tim Hammerich.

Next month marks the start of almond pollination season, and the California almond community has announced a new five-point Pollinator Protection Program. This collection of initiatives reaffirms the industry’s long-standing commitment to researching, protecting and improving honey bee health.

One of those five points is promoting tools for improved communication, including a digital mapping tool called BeeWhere. Dr. Josette Lewis, Director of Agricultural Affairs at the Almond Board of California explains.

Lewis…”Here at the Almond Board, we're really pleased to join with the state government and partners in both the bee and agricultural industries to fund the development and launch of BeWhere, a real time GIS mapping tool that helps beekeepers to mark their hive locations using a mobile app…

..I think it's pretty obvious to see this new tool can provide both farmers and pest control advisers and pesticide applicators with more easily accessible information about the number of beehives that are nearby and ensure that that communication takes place with the managers of those hives to make sure those bees are kept safe. To get the word out about this new tool in advance of this year's bloom, we're partnering with the California State Beekeepers Association and the agricultural industries so that all stakeholders are aware of this new tool and are able to utilize it during the coming bloom season.”

The other four points to the plan include a relationship with the non-profit Pollinator Partnership, educating farmers and pollination stakeholders, increasing floral diversity, and supporting bee health research.

Previous ReportFood Safety vs Biodiversity
Next ReportItalian Machinery at World Ag Expo