Tim Jackson
Almond Board of Australia chief executive
AUSTRALIA’S almond blossom season is underway and orchards along the Murray River are looking spectacular.
This is a critical time for the almond industry, as it is reliant on honeybees to help with pollination.
The onset of bloom appears to be running as much as two weeks behind this year, which could be a blessing given the extremely low temperatures experienced in the growing regions in recent times.
Nationally more than 300,000 hives are needed to pollinate 60,000ha of almond trees.
Roughly half these hives are needed in a region running along the Murray River from the South Australian border to Swan Hill.
Beekeepers have transported hives from as far away as Queensland to help with pollination on local orchards.
This year, however, there’s a shortage of honeybees as a result of the drought, fires in the Grampians National Park during summer and the ongoing impact of varroa mite.
Despite the best efforts of beekeepers who have prepared their hives and managed biosecurity, there’s been a sharp decline in colony strength in many areas.
The Australian Honey Bee Industry Council (AHBIC) is hearing reports some beekeepers are only able to send 50 to 70 per cent of the hives they had planned to for almond pollination.
South Australia appears to be the most significantly affected state, where one almond grower has taken the extraordinary step of buying several hundred hives from Western Australia.
The impact of pollination won’t be known until nutlets begin to form on trees during spring.
While the bees are on almond orchards, growers implement a range of practices to support their health and productivity.
This includes providing fresh drinking water, staggering the placement and removal of hives to ensure there is enough food for the bees, providing alternative floral resources and avoiding pesticide use while hives are present.
Our growers are also encouraged to become Bee Friendly Farming certified, to validate the efforts being made to protect, preserve and promote the health of both honeybees and native pollinators.
The almond industry works closely with AHBIC, the Wheen Bee Foundation and the state biosecurity bodies who are issuing permits for the interstate movement of bee hives.
The national transition to management of varroa mite program the industry has provided beekeepers with the best chance to managing varroa when it arrives in their hives.
A range of training courses and education resources around managing hives with varroa have been rolled out across Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and SA to assist beekeepers when the inevitable occurs.
The Almond Board of Australia is once again looking forward to being in Robinvale on Sunday (August 17) to support the Mallee Almond Blossom Festival.
A dedicated team of volunteers organises this free event, which runs from 10am until 4pm at the Robinvale Community Arts Centre.
Anyone wanting to view the almond blossom should book a ticket for a bus tour, where you’ll be taken to a nearby farm for spectacular photo opportunites.
A bake off is also being held with judges assessing the cake and slice sections on their appearance, taste, texture and creativity.
All entries need to include almonds as an ingredient in either the cake/slice, frosting or as decoration.
Tickets for the bus tours, applications forms for the bake off and further information about the event can be found at mabf.org.au.
