vegetables

Sustainable
Farming
Focus
39
Protecting bees and wildlife
MANY INSECTS, INCLUDING BEES, PROVIDE AN ESSENTIAL POLLINATION SERVICE AS A
PART OF THE AUSTRALIAN FARMING ECOSYSTEM. VEGETABLES AUSTRALIA SPOKE WITH
INDUSTRY EXPERTS ABOUT PROTECTING AND PROMOTING THESE IMPORTANT SPECIES
FOR AUSTRALIAN AGRICULTURE.
While overall farmed honey
bee populations have
been rising across the world,
global honey bee populations
remain under severe pressure
due to factors including habitat
loss, bee pests and pathogens
such as the virulent viruses
transferred by the Varroa mite.
Australia remains free of the
Varroa mite and some of these
viruses, however we can ensure
the continued protection of our
bees by learning from overseas
issues.
Growers and beekeepers:
keeping up-to-date
“In Australia we have some
of the healthiest honey bee
colonies in the world, and it is
important for us to do everything
we can to keep it that way,” said
CropLife Australia CEO Matthew
Cossey.
With this goal in mind,
CropLife Australia and the
Australian Honey Bee Industry
Council have developed
an app that facilitates
communication between
farmers and beekeepers. The
‘BeeConnected’ app works by
notifying registered farmers
when beekeepers set up hives
near their fields. Meanwhile,
beekeepers can find out when
crop protection products are
being used.
Industry R&D
As part of investing in R&D for
bees, Bayer produces a bee
health magazine, BeeNow,
which links agriculture and
pollinators worldwide. The latest
edition focused on a field station
in England where integrated
farm management techniques
are being used to help honey
bees, bumblebees and other
wild bees flourish alongside
good crop yields.
The edges of tracks and
fields at the station are lined
with flowers and beetle banks.
This helps to ensure that the
farmland works as a suitable
environmental habitat – not only
for crops but for bees and other
insects.
This sort of investment in
research allows benefits to
flow on and protect crops
in Australia from facing the
same challenges as overseas
agricultural practices.
Helping honey bees
Dr Ivor Davis, a Master
Beekeeper and trustee of the
British Beekeepers Association,
makes recommendations for
ways that everyone can help to
preserve honey bees.
1. Plant bee-friendly plants
Single flowering plants and
vegetables encourage honey
bees to visit your crop. Bees
like the allium family, all mints,
beans, flowering herbs and
daisy-shaped flowers.
2. Use local honey and wash
honey jars
Honey from foreign countries
can contain bacteria and spores
that are very harmful to honey
bees. Leaving such a jar outside
encourages honey bees to feed
on the remaining honey and this
can result in the whole colony
becoming infected.
3. Find space for a beehive
Many would-be beekeepers find
it difficult to find a safe space
for a colony of bees. Growers
who have an appropriate space
on their land are advised to
contact the local beekeeping
association. A beehive can
make a significant difference to
crop productivity health.
4. Be bee friendly
Bees are good neighbours when
not provoked. If a bee is near
you, do not agitate it with sharp
movements. By staying calm
and moving away slowly, the
bee will soon lose interest.
It is useful to note that bees
do not like the smell of leather
clothing or alcohol and regard
dark clothing as a threat.
They can also be confused
by scented soaps, shampoos
and perfumes.
i
For more information please
visit beecare.bayer.com.
The EnviroVeg Program
is funded by Horticulture
Innovation Australia Limited
using the National Vegetable
Levy and funds from the
Australian Government.
Project Number: VG12008