As of 2026, the N.C. Department of Agriculture has been using a bee protection tool for ten years. That tool is an online-based program called BeeCheck, which is a voluntary bee hive registration system. It involves a database, mapping tools and communication channels. The purpose is to help protect bees from harmful pesticide drift, which … Read more
Bee populations in North Carolina are on the upswing, and that means just one thing for beekeepers: you guessed it, more work. Warmer weather means more bees, and more bees means an increase in the predatory varroa mites that can threaten their broods, according to Don Hopkins, North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services … Read more
It’s been two years since the online mapping programs DriftWatch and BeeCheck were launched in North Carolina. Since then, it has become a valuable tool for beekeepers, specialty crop growers and pesticide applicators. This month the programs launched two apps to help growers, pesticide applicators and beekeepers. The apps work to increased functionality and ease … Read more
