Protect your beehive
Mosquito spraying for Zika virus in other states has led some North Carolina beekeepers to ask what they can do to protect their beehives, and the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is asking bee owners to let farmers and pesticide applicators know their hive locations using the BeeCheck mapping software.
“This program is voluntary, non-regulatory and free to use,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “We are excited to see signup for the program has outpaced other states that have had the program a lot longer than us.”
Since its launch five months ago, 533 producers and more than 700 beekeepers have registered.
BeeCheck allows beekeepers to map their hives, with the companion DriftWatch allowing producers of high-value specialty crops to map their sites, offering an easy reference for pesticide applicators. To be notified of aerial spraying within a mile of their apiary, beekeepers can also register with the department’s Plant Industry Division for a $10 fee.
BeeCheck and DriftWatch are available at www.ncagr.gov/pollinators.
