HiveTracks, AI, and Smarter Beekeeping Records (410)

Keeping good colony records has always sounded easier than it actually is. Gloves, propolis, weather, time pressure, and multiple colonies can quickly turn detailed notes into a few marks on a brick—or nothing at all. In this episode, Jeff and Becky welcome back HiveTracks founder Dr. James Wilkes and co-founder Max Rünzel for an update on how the longtime beekeeping platform is changing. HiveTracks now allows beekeepers to talk through an inspection while the app converts those observations into organized colony records. James and Max explain how voice input, photographs, weather, bloom data, land use, and colony history can provide the context needed to make AI tools more useful to individual beekeepers. They also look ahead to what Max calls "community intelligence": using regional information to help beekeepers recognize changing conditions such as earlier swarming, shifts in bloom timing, or other seasonal signals. The conversation explores why an AI tool with access to your actual colony history may provide more relevant guidance than a general-purpose chatbot—and why the beekeeper still needs to remain an active part of every decision. James and Max also discuss HiveTracks' growing work beyond managed honey bees, including habitat monitoring and broader pollinator health. Also in this episode, Becky answers a Hive IQ listener question about the research behind the honey bee propolis envelope. Websites from the episode and others we recommend: Western Apicultural Society of North America: https://www.westernapiculturalsociety.org Honey Bee Health Coalition: https://honeybeehealthcoalition.org Project Apis m. (PAm): https://www.projectapism.org The National Honey Board: https://honey.com Honey Bee Obscura Podcast : https://honeybeeobscura.com Copyright © 2026 by Growing Planet Media, LLC ______________ Beekeeping Today: A Practical, Seasonal Guide for Beginning Beekeepers Whether your goal is to harvest honey, support local pollination, or simply enjoy a fascinating new hobby, Beekeeping Today (Lyons Press |On Sale 01/19/2027) provides a solid foundation for anyone interested in keeping honey bees. Available for preorders now! ______________ ______________ 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! As a beekeeper, you want products that benefit you and your bees. When you choose Premier Bee Products , you choose hive components that are healthier for bees and more productive for you. Because we believe that in beekeeping, details make all the difference. Premier Bee Products: Better for bees. Better for beekeepers. Use promo code PODCAST for 10% off your next online order. 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 HiveIQ is revolutionizing the way beekeepers manage their colonies with innovative, insulated hive systems designed for maximum colony health and efficiency. Their hives maintain stable temperatures year-round, reduce stress on the bees, and are built to last using durable, lightweight materials. Whether you're managing two hives or two hundred, HiveIQ's smart design helps your bees thrive while saving you time and effort. Learn more at HiveIQ.com . We'd like to thank Vita Bee Health for supporting the podcast. Vita provides proven tools for controlling Varroa—from Apistan and Apiguard to the new VarroxSan extended-release oxalic acid strips—helping beekeepers keep stronger, healthier colonies. 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 . Thanks to Bee Culture , the Magazine of American Beekeeping , for their support of Honey Bee Obscura. Available in print and digital at www.beeculture.com _______________ We hope you enjoy this podcast and welcome your questions and comments in the show notes of this episode or: questions@beekeepingtodaypodcast.com 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 ; Bolero de la Fontero by Rimsky Music; Perfect Sky by Graceful Movement; I'm Not Running Away This Time by Max Brodie; Original guitar background instrumental by Jeff Ott. Beekeeping Today Podcast is an audio production of Growing Planet Media, LLC ** As an Amazon Associate, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases Copyright © 2026 by Growing Planet Media, LLC