Review of Bee Health

THE almond industry is at the forefront of recognising the importance of paid pollination and pest awareness, experts say.

Growers at the Australian Almonds Conference in Adelaide last week were given an update on what has been done with the money they invested in the Pollination Program, a joint research effort managed by the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation and Horticulture Australia.

Pollination Research and Development Advisory Committee chairman Gerald Martin told growers they were to be congratulated for heeding warnings about pests such as varroa mite.

“Pollination is vital for our horticultural and agricultural crops, with about 65 per cent of crops produced in Australia reliant to some degree on pollination services from honeybees,” he said. “This is particularly true of almonds.

“One of the greatest threats is varroa, which could virtually wipe out the wild European honeybees which currently provide horticulture with free pollination services.”

Mr Martin said the almond industry recognised this early, got on board with the Pollination Program and continued to be a driving force of research activities.

“It is currently leading a project investigating the impact of a potential varroa incursion on hive movements and therefore horticultural industries,” Mr Martin said.

The project will continue until the middle of 2015.

There is also work under way in the broader Pollination Program.

“This includes research into a new system of electronic hive monitoring, screened bottom boards for Australian conditions and the reliance of growers on escaped European honeybees,” Mr Martin said.