Don’t impede beekeepers at border crossings during almond pollination period, says Littleproud
Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud says it is vital beekeepers are not impeded in getting hives through border crossings during the critical pollination period.
FEDERAL Agriculture Minister David Littleproud has weighed in on the issue of beekeepers seeking fast inspections in crossing state borders.
Since the recent closing of the border between Victoria and NSW, beekeepers and the almond industry have become increasingly anxious about getting beehives into orchards in the critical August pollination period.
A meeting of state agriculture department officers, border inspection agencies and apiary industry representatives was held last week to seek procedures to allow trucks carrying beehives to quickly move across borders in case long hold-ups resulted in bees escaping and causing a danger to people at the crossings.
Mr Littleproud said it was vital that agricultural services, such as the pollination services provided by bees, were allowed to get to where they need to go.
“The border restrictions to contain the spread of COVID-19 should be managed in a way to protect lives while allowing essential agricultural cross-border transport, including beehive movements,” Mr Littleproud said.
“As the weather warms up, it is critical that beekeepers are not impeded unnecessarily from undertaking their role in supporting the almond industry.
“The last thing we want is agitated bees at a border crossing.”
Another meeting of apiarists and state agriculture department officers was held on Friday.
NSW Apiarists Association president Steve Targett said procedures for beekeepers to cross from Victoria into NSW had still not been resolved.
With most of Australia’s mature almond orchards located in the northern Mallee region, a lot of beehives were brought into Victoria from NSW, Queensland and to a lesser extent, South Australia in the first half of August.
Mr Targett said moving the beehives out of Victoria later in August to orchards in the Griffith and Hillston areas of NSW posed a potential problem if there were delays at border crossings.
He said bees became quite agitated when they were first moved on to trucks and they were attracted to bright lights.
He said if there were delays at border crossings at night, the bees could escape and pose a potential health problem for police and other people near lights.
Mr Targett one resolution was to fast-track the checking procedures in dark areas away from lights before letting trucks cross.
He said beekeepers and orchardists had COVID-19 safety plans in place the resulted in no contact between people, so transfer of the disease should not be a problem.
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