Almond growers stung by bee shortage

Almond growers are growing increasingly concerned about their ability to pollinate their orchards as the varroa mite outbreak puts a stop to bee movement.

Mildura almond grower Darren Minter with his own beehives on his property in Iraak. Picture: Robert Klarich/The Australian

Normally in three weeks’ time, the bees buzzing around Victorian almond grower Darren Minter’s 25,000-tree orchard near Mildura would be joined by another 300,000 hives.

The giant swarm of European honey bees from all over Australia would then set about industriously moving across the Sunraysia region from one flower bud to another, feeding on nectar and pollinating the trees as they go.

It’s an essential step to ensuring the trees bear fruit the following harvest.

This year, the bees on Mr Minter’s property, which, by a stroke of luck, were brought in early to feed on his canola crop, could be without their interstate companions as the deadly varroa mite outbreak in NSW threatens to disrupt the entire industry.

“If they don’t come, a $1bn industry will probably be cut in half, or more,” Mr Minter said.

“We don’t know because we’ve never had a circumstance where you haven’t got any bees, or just very few. It’s terrifying for the whole industry.”

Almond growers ideally require at least six hives per hectare to pollinate the country’s 50,000ha crop every August.

It’s an important income stream for beekeepers that supplements bee and honey sales.

Since the varroa destructor mite was first discovered in June near Newcastle – spreading to at least 24 sites – every state surrounding NSW has banned the transportation of its bees across their borders.

It poses a major problem for the almond growers in Victoria’s north west.

“We don’t want it to spread because we know what it’s done for industry in every country it’s been in,” Mr Minter said. “The biggest problem is we’ve got to put three-quarters of Australian beehives in to pollinate the almonds.”

The Victorian government on Wednesday implemented a system requiring a permit for the movement of all bees into northern Victoria’s Sunraysia region.

Victoria’s Deputy Chief Plant Health Officer Stephen Dibley said the measures would help with contact tracing if varroa mites were detected in Victoria.

“The permit system helps ensure the almond pollination can proceed in a manner that won’t jeopardise Victoria’s bees,” Dr Dib­ley said.

Some beekeepers remain cautious about moving their hives into the region. “There is a concern that if beekeepers take their bees into the almonds and varroa is found in the area … it might mean thousands and thousands of hives could have to be destroyed,” Victoria Apiarists Association president John van Weeghel said. “The losses would be phenomenal.

“There are beekeepers from all over who have decided not to go into the almonds. (They think) it’s not worth the risk and there almost certainly will be a shortage of bees for the almonds.”

Mildura almond grower Darren Minter. Picture: Robert Klarich/The Australian

The loss of NSW bees has the almond industry considering ways to ensure Queensland beekeepers can still bring their hives down in time for the pollination.

Federal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt said his department was in regular contact with NSW authorities to monitor the outbreak and find solutions for the industries that rely on the bees.

“A widespread incursion could have a devastating impact on Australian agriculture, both on honey bee industries (and) those that rely on pollination services,” he said.

Queensland Agriculture Minister Mark Furner said he understood some beekeepers would have contractual arrangements to take their hives to Victoria for the pollination, but was also wary that if the bees became infected, it could have a devastating impact on upcoming fruit tree pollination in Queensland.

For Mr Minter, any loss to the bee and almond industries would be heartbreaking after years of close calls with varroa mites.

It’s led to renewed calls from agriculture industries for levies to be applied to all shipping containers brought into the country, not only agricultural products.

“We’ve been telling the government for years about this incursion,” Mr Minter said. “Other industries should be helping to fund biosecurity, not just fruit and vegetable farmers.”