Extra Forage for Bees?
The Almond
Board of California and Project Apis m. (PAm) are doing research on solutions for
core honeybee pressures. A range of factors affect the honey bee population, including colony collapse
disorder, Varroa mites, lack of pollen and nectar food sources, pesticides,
pathogens and
the changing landscape for honey bee forage.
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| Could floral diversity such as this improve honey bee pollination? |
The Almond Board of California almond growers can
contribute to a better bee supply by providing forage in or near their orchards
before and/or after almond bloom. PAm has identified four bee forage
seed mixtures for the 2013 planting season. These mixtures provide floral diversity prior to and after the almond
bloom for the nearly 1.6 million colonies that are delivered to the
state. With proper nutrition, bees can fend off many of their
stresses.
A secondary benefit to providing bees with an
alternative food source, planting these cover crops provides increased soil
fertility, better water infiltration, weed suppression and reduced soil erosion
and potentially decreased colony rental fees for the orchard.
For
best germination, growers should plant bee pastures in September, ahead of fall
rains. Almond growers should consider their pesticide practices before deciding
where to plant the forage crop. PAm provides the seed and guidance to those growers
who are willing to enroll in the program.
To
enroll in the pollinator forage project, email PAm.
Labels: almond bloom, Almond Board of California, Dan Cummings, floral diversity, forage, forage seed mixtures, Gordon Warkell, honey bee, honeybee, PAm, pollinator forage project, Project Apis, Richard Waycott
