JULY | AUGUST 2017
Almond Facts
33
Think Outside
the Orchard
Row plantings in orchard middles
aren’t the only option for planting
forage; growers can also choose to
plant forage along orchard margins
or in open fields nearby. Planting a
mixture of mustards or clover and
vetch in a field next to the orchard
provides bees a diversity in their diets,
which they need to build up strength to
fight off diseases and mites.
When almond bloom slows and the
pollen is gone from the trees, honey
bees will travel up to four miles to find
another source of food. In their journey
to find food, bees might encounter other
crops being sprayed or may pick up
diseases from other hives. Having an
alternative food source close to the hive
reduces the risk of bees foraging further
from home.
The bee pastures planted with
mustards, clover or vetch can be
mowed and disked into the ground in
spring after almond bloom, adding
nitrogen and organic matter back into
the soil. A second crop can then be
planted there, such as pumpkins or
sunflowers.
Hedgerows, with their long bloom
periods, are also an option to provide
forage for bees, as well as harborage
for beneficial insects and benefits to
the soil.
PAm provides free seed blends –
a mustard mix, a clover mix and
Lana vetch – for the purpose of
creating honey bee habitat. For more
information, go to the organization’s
website at
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As part of an ongoing commitment
to honey bee health, Almond Board
of California developed a comprehensive
set of Honey Bee Best Management
Practices for California’s almond
industry. To learn more, visit
Almonds.com/pollination.
