Precision Technology Creates A Buzz

Sep 03, 2019

When it comes to "precision" in agriculture, beekeeping isn't the first thing which springs to mind.

But some new innovations could change that perception.

Tracey Smith with Montreal-based company "Nectar" says their small device monitors the temperature, humidity and sound within the hive and relays the data to your cell phone, allowing you to keep tabs on the queen bee.

"When there's no queen in the hive, the temperature will tend to be more variable or possibly lower," she says. "When there is a queen in the hive, the temperature will be a more steady, slightly higher, and the bees will make a different buzzing noise when there's no queen."

Smith says it's very important for beekeepers to be able to quickly determine whether or not the queen is in the hive.

"If there's no queen in the middle of the honey production season, the yield from the hive will be quite a bit lower. If you can get in and replace that queen, your yields will end up being higher."

The system has a small hexagon shaped device which attaches to the hive connected by Bluetooth to a "BeeHub" tower in the centre of the yard, which then transfers hive information to your phone through a cell network.

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Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.