IN YOUR ORCHARD
buckets or tubs of water is critical for the hives. Water should be provided as soon as possible after bees arrive in your orchard. Doing so ensures bees spend more time pollinating instead of searching for water. Make certain containers are new or clean of any hazardous materials, such as chemicals or other potentially harmful residues. Bees will need a “landing area” in the water container, such as screens or fabric draped across the top of the water or rocks or straw to prevent drowning. 6 Growers Can Reduce Risks of Pesticide Exposure Almond growers are entrusted with the complicated task of protecting both their crop and visiting pollinators. An unintended consequence of crop-protection practices is the chance for bees to become casualties of pesticides and other agricultural sprays in the orchard. It is critical to consider honey bee health and pesticide exposure throughout the entire year, especially when bees are present. Below are some recommendations from the Almond Board of California’s Honey Bee BMP Guide(https://www.almonds.com/sites/default/ files/2020-12/BeeBPMs_12212020.pdf): DON’T: • Do not tank-mix or utilize adjuvants during almond pollination. • Do not hit any flying bees with any spray application materials. (Spray droplets negatively impact a bee’s ability to fly) • Do not apply insecticides during bloom. DO: • Do read labels, carefully follow directions, and avoid agricultural sprays that are toxic to bees or have a long residual. • Do bloom sprays at night which will minimize exposure to bees and pollen to chemicals. • Do replace water sources with fresh water after a treatment is made.
By taking these simple steps to reduce pesticide risks, growers can protect the bees on their property and build trust with their beekeepers, helping them return year after year with a healthy pollinating workforce. While almond production has tripled in California since 2002, the number of honey bee colonies has remained unchanged over the same period. 7 Increasing acreage and wide-ranging dependence on migratory pollination services places tremendous pressure on the entire system. Diminishing honey bee populations have impacts across the food system. Almonds (along with 90 other crops reliant on honey bees) play a critical role in this cycle, directly affecting whether bees decline or endure. Following Best Management Practices and providing forage and fresh water are just some of the ways the almond industry can continue to support the health and survival of our pollinators… your bees and trees will thank you! References: 1. “Honey Bees & Pollination.” Dietary Impact , National Honey Board, honey.com/bees-sustainability/honey- bees-pollination. Accessed 4 Jan. 2024. 2. “Pollination.” Bee Health Collective , Bee Health Collective, beehealthcollective.org/pollination. Accessed 4 Jan. 2024. 3. H opkins, B. and Kulhanek, K. (2022) Using cold storage for a brood break in one of the hottest places on Earth, Indoor Storage of Honey Bees . Available at: https:// www.projectapism.org/indoor-storage-of-honey-bees- blog/using-cold-storage-for-a-brood-break-in-one-of- the-hottest-places-on-earth (Accessed: 17 January 2024). Figure 2: Cover crops provide a critical food source for arriving bees. If planted strategically, cover crops can bloom before almond bloom. This early forage kick-starts your rented hives, so they are geared-up to pollinate almond blossoms. Credit: Project Apis m.
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ALMOND FACTS
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