Beekeepers' convoy of WA hives to help South Australia's almond growers

Australia Broadcast Center

2 days ago

About 600 West Australian beehives are being loaded on trucks ready to head to South Australia to assist almond growers facing drought and a critical shortage of bees.
The Bee Industry Council of Western Australia decided to set up the convoy after being approached for help to keep almond growers across the border in production.
Almond trees depend heavily on honey bees for pollination, and without enough hives during their brief blooming period, the growers risk substantial yield losses.
The hives were formally purchased by SA growers keen to boost local bee populations, with the new convoy set to follow 80 truckloads of WA hay recently sent across the border.
Bee Industry Council WA director Brendon Fewster said producers in Western Australia were quick to come to the rescue.
As well as being in drought, SA producers have been cut off from their usual east coast suppliers who are dealing with varroa mite outbreaks.
"Seasonal conditions have been the main factor for them, but almond pollination usually requires bees coming in from the east coast, which, at the moment, there [are strict measures] in place because of varroa mite," Mr Fewster said.
Beekeepers from across WA have delivered the hives to a property near Bindoon, 75 kilometres north of Perth.
Ensuring full hives are ready for pollination can take months of careful preparation.
He said the bees were expected to be transported via road train later this week, but sending bees across the Nullarbor came with its challenges.
"The thing with bees is you can't leave them on the truck for very long. You want to get them on and off there as quickly as you can," he said.
"They need around 2,000 beehives, but we are transporting around 600, so hopefully this will get some bees into their orchards."
Mr Fewster said once the almond pollination season was over in South Australia, bees could not be returned west due to strict biosecurity protocols.
Mr Fewster, a longtime beekeeper from the Gingin area, said the most recent season had also been one of the most challenging he could recall in Western Australia.
"We've had a lot of long, dry summers. The trees and bush are struggling," he said.
But despite the challenges, the director of the council did not rule out the cross-border collaboration becoming ongoing.
"We've been in contact with the almond growers over there, and it looks like this could become something that WA supports ongoing," Mr Fewster said.
"We've done it in such short notice, with only with about 10 days notice for our beekeepers.
"Next time, if we can organise ourselves earlier, I'm sure we could do it again with more bees going into South Australia."