Monitoring the Hive with Broodminder's Rich and Lorenzo (305)

In this episode, Jeff and Becky sit down with Rich Morris and Lorenzo Pons of Broodminder, the innovative team behind hive monitoring technology that's helping beekeepers better understand their colonies. Rich and Lorenzo discuss the origins of Broodminder and how they've made high-tech hive monitoring accessible for beekeepers of all experience levels. They share how Broodminder's devices provide insights into brood levels, colony productivity, and even hive weight—essential indicators of colony health. Listeners will also get a sneak peek into Broodminder's newest venture, BeeTV. This upcoming technology aims to monitor varroa mites inside the hive with an in-hive camera, providing beekeepers with continuous, real-time data on mite levels without the need for traditional testing methods. Rich shares how this breakthrough device, currently in beta testing, could transform mite management by offering an AI-driven approach to monitoring that's both efficient and non-invasive. For those curious about practical applications, Lorenzo explains how the Broodminder team converts raw data into actionable insights, such as brood growth trends and swarm activity alerts. Jeff shares his experience using Broodminder's technology to monitor hive conditions remotely, helping him prioritize inspections and manage hive health more efficiently. In a fascinating segment, the team also reveals how Broodminder collaborated with researchers to study bee behavior during the recent solar eclipse using their BeeDar device. This episode is a must-listen for tech-savvy beekeepers and anyone interested in the future of hive management. Rich and Lorenzo's passion for enhancing beekeeping through technology will leave you inspired to consider how these tools might benefit your own hives. Listen Today! Websites we recommend: Broodminder: https://broodminder.com Bee Counted - Publicly accessible Broodminder installations: https://beecounted.org/   Honey Bee Health Coalition: https://honeybeehealthcoalition.org The National Honey Board: https://honey.com Honey Bee Obscura Podcast: https://honeybeeobscura.com 2 Million Blossoms - The Podcast: https://2millionblossoms.com   Copyright © 2024 by Growing Planet Media, LLC     ______________ Betterbee is the presenting sponsor of Beekeeping Today Podcast. Betterbee's mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, Betterbee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com This episode is brought to you by Global Patties! Global offers a variety of standard and custom patties. Visit them today at http://globalpatties.com and let them know you appreciate them sponsoring this episode!  Thanks to Bee Smart Designs as a sponsor of this podcast! Bee Smart Designs is the creator of innovative, modular and interchangeable hive systems made in the USA using recycled and American sourced materials. Bee Smart Designs - Simply better beekeeping for the modern beekeeper. Give your bees a boost with HiveAlive! Proven to increase bee health, honey yield, and overwinter survival, HiveAlive's unique formula includes seaweed, thyme, and lemongrass, making it easy to feed. Choose from HiveAlive's Fondant Patties, High-Performance Pollen Patties, or EZ Feed Super Syrup—ready-to-use options for busy beekeepers. Buy locally or online. Order now and pick up at our booth at the North American Honey Bee Expo! https://usa.hivealivebees.com/pages/nahbe-2025-pre-order-portal. Thanks to Strong Microbials for their support of Beekeeping Today Podcast. Find out more about their line of probiotics in our Season 3, Episode 12 episode and from their website: https://www.strongmicrobials.com Thanks for Northern Bee Books for their support. Northern Bee Books is the publisher of bee books available worldwide from their website or from Amazon and bookstores everywhere. They are also the publishers of The Beekeepers Quarterly and Natural Bee Husbandry. _______________ We hope you enjoy this podcast and welcome your questions and comments in the show notes of this episode or: [email protected] Thank you for listening!  Podcast music: Be Strong by Young Presidents; Epilogue by Musicalman; Faraday by BeGun; Walking in Paris by Studio Le Bus; A Fresh New Start by Pete Morse; Wedding Day by Boomer; Christmas Avenue by Immersive Music; Red Jack Blues by Daniel Hart; Original guitar background instrumental by Jeff Ott. Beekeeping Today Podcast is an audio production of Growing Planet Media, LLC Copyright © 2024 by Growing Planet Media, LLC