The Beekeepers Club Inc.
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Pollination
Club Services
Bee Hives for Crop Pollination
Most people would know that bees perform pollination of fruit and vegetables. Certain fruit types are more dependent on pollination than others. Almonds and Blueberries are highly dependent on bee pollination. If you want to grow high quality apples, bee pollination is a must. There are various books with all the details.
Many orchards require hundreds or even thousands of beehives for pollination. Almond Pollination in the Robinvale area required 60,000 bee hives in 2008. Such big job can only be performed when properly managed by a Pollination Coordinator. Those hives are supplied by commercial beekeepers and delivered in lots of hundreds to the farms on semi trailers. This has to happen in a very short time, the almond blossom finishes four weeks after it has started. A true logistical challenge.
And there are plenty of smaller orchards who require only one or two hives, but where to get them?
Some members of the The Beekeepers Club are willing to hire out their hives for the smaller pollination jobs. This list should assist fruit growers to locate Bee Hives for Pollination.
Bees for Crop Pollination by Hobby Beekeepers sorted by postcode:
Beekeeper |
Location |
Contact number |
Service Area |
Comments |
|
Graeme Grigson |
Bundoora, 3083 |
0418 536 189 |
Inner and outer Melbourne area |
||
Max Ambrosius |
Heidelberg, 3084 |
(03) 9850 5328
|
Heidelberg and surrounding suburbs |
2-3 hives only |
|
Paul Pynaker |
The Patch, 3792 |
(03) 9756-7277 |
Outer Eastern & SE Melbourne area |
Links to information about Pollination
Insect Pollination Of Cultivated Crop Plants - link to a Virtual Beekeeping Book (updated continuously)
Best practice in a honeybee pollination service Agnote DAI-28 - article by NSW DPI
Pollination: the free ride may be over - article by Science Alert
Crop Pollination Association Inc Website - web link to Australian Crop Pollination Association
Generic Pollination Agreement - from Crop Pollination Association Inc website
Pollination of apples by honey bees Agnote DAI/132 - article by the NSW DPI
Tasmanian Crop Pollination Association Code of Practice - pdf file
Honeybee pollination of fruit tree crops - An article (AG0092) from the Victorian Department of Primary Industries
GM canola – pollen, bees and honey - Agrifood Awareness Australia article about genetically modified canola and what it means to bees, pollen and honey
