More producers than ever are looking towards cover crops to help them achieve their goals of improving soil quality, pollinator health, and economic viability in the orchard.
Pesticide Applications Many of the pesticides used to protect crops can also harm or kill honey bees. GREAT CARE AND CAUTION should be taken when applying crop protection products when bees are present. Always read labels and follow directions. Do not use pesticides with alerts 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 As an additional resource, the Almond Board published a quick guide for Honey Bee BMPs for Applicators which can be found at: almonds.com/beeBMPs. Clean Water for Bees 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 40,000–60,000 bees can easily overheat. Bees use evaporative cooling to regulate hive temperatures by
is an easy way to manage bees pollinating almonds and avoid complaints from neighbors. Follow these simple steps to provide clean water for the bees pollinating your crops: • Place clean water near hives as soon as they arrive and use new containers or ones that have been thoroughly cleaned. • A proper “landing” area is essential to prevent bees from drowning. This can be achieved with floating cork, marbles, leaves, grass, or straw. • For buckets or drums, most commercial beekeepers use burlap. Burlap, fastened by clothespins, is draped over the sides allowing water to wick up the sides. • Change out water if it has been contaminated with pesticides or looks unclean. • The recommended rate of water is about a half-gallon for each hive for the duration of pollination, which is roughly equal to: One 55-gallon drum for every 100 hives or, one 5 gallon bucket for every 10 hives. Bee Nutrition & Forage More producers than ever are looking towards cover crops to help them achieve their goals of improving soil quality, pollinator health, and economic viability in the orchard. Planting bee forage cover crops is a great way to jump start the colonies before bloom. If cover crops or other floral resources are blooming when bees are placed in the orchard, it triggers a “positive feedback loop,” increasing brood production and foraging behavior (pollination). Increasing bee health is just one of many benefits cover crops bring to an orchard system. Preliminary data shared by University of California researchers regarding these benefits shows seed mixes high in legumes can boost nitrogen levels in the soil. Orchards with cover crops had 82 more nitrogen lbs/acre in Merced County and 126
collecting and fanning small water droplets. Standing water on orchard floors may be contaminated with pesticides which could be harmful to bees. Bees accessing other water sources like residential pools or fountains may create a nuisance. Providing water
Photo by Project Apis m., 2021: Blue Diamond Growers’ Water for Bees program distributes water buckets and works with Project Apis m. to educate their growers about providing fresh water for pollinating honey bees.
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