jan-feb-2021

CULTIVATING SUSTAINABILITY Recommendations for Honey Bees Pollinating Almonds The flush of color the almond bloom brings to the valley is a spectacular indicator that a new year is upon us. It is also a time to reflect and congratulate each other on the productivity and hard work of the previous year. Like 2020, 2021 will have its own unique set of challenges. The following information will help you accomplish your regular orchard management tasks without posing a risk to bees and their ability to pollinate effectively. The honey bee is a small creature, and attention to small details regarding their health and safety is an important factor in achieving high yields. Communication Growers should communicate with all parties that are involved with pollination. Proper communication will certainly include the beekeeper who is providing the colonies but might also include a bee broker, pest control adviser (PCA) and certified pesticide applicator (CPA). California county agricultural commissioners also play a vital role in the communication chain between growers and beekeeper. All colonies are required to be registered with each county agricultural commissioner upon arrival in that county. The best way to register colonies is by using the BeeWhere program, beewherecalifornia.com . This web-based program offers beekeepers a dynamic, real-time geographic information system (GIS) where they can mark colonies with a pin drop in the orchard via a mobile app. BeeWhere is useful to growers because their notice of intent (NOI) for material applications allows each county agricultural commissioner to notify each beekeeper in the area which allows them the opportunity to move their colonies. Proper communication helps both grower and beekeeper achieve successful pollination while reducing risk to honey bee colonies and the almonds they pollinate. Starting before bloom, growers and beekeepers should agree upon average frame count per colony, date and location of placement and removal, inspection protocol, and payment terms. A contract is a good way to get the discussion going. A pollination contract template can be found at projectapism.org . Pesticide Applications Many of the pesticides commonly used to protect crops can also harm honey bees. Caution should be taken when applying crop protection products when bees are present. Always read labels and follow directions. Do not use pesticides with cautions on the label that read “highly toxic to bees,” “toxic to bees,” “residual times” or “extended residual toxicity”. Avoid applying any insecticide during bloom. If a fungicide application is necessary, spray in the evening or at night when bees and pollen are not present. Adjuvants should not be used with fungicides unless stated on the label. 1 Water It is common knowledge that bees need nectar and pollen to survive. But adequate access to clean water is an often-overlooked requirement for proper bee health. Even on a day with temperatures that may seem cool to us, a colony packed with 40,000 to 60,000 bees can easily overheat. Bees collect water and regulate hive temperatures by fanning small water droplets. It’s an insects version of evaporative cooling. Standing water on orchard floors may be contaminated with pesticides which could be harmful to bees. Bees accessing other 1 Almond Board of California. Honey Bee Best Management Practices For California Almonds. Modesto, CA. www.almonds.com/sites/default/files/ ALM_189395_HBBrochure_ForWebsite_8_5x11_F5.pdf 1 6 A L M O N D F A C T S