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Spring chill keeps bees from buzzing
25 Sep 2003
Goulburn Valley orchardists are hoping the temperature gauge will rise above 19 degrees, so that honey and native bees will venture out. Cold, wet and windy weather is keeping the bees indoors and their important fruit-growing season task of pollination has been slowed down.
The stone-fruit trees in the region are in full bloom and waiting for bees to play their role in pollination, which determines the fruit's shape, size, sweetness and strength. But bees are at their most active only at temperatures of 19 degrees and above.
One grower said there's only a small window of opportunity to pollinate trees and if the conditions aren't right the fruit won't set.
Up to half of Goulburn Valley orchardists use bee hives to pollinate their trees. The usual trend is to use two hives per flowering hectare for up to four weeks. While the price of the hives depends on the crop, costs for two hives range from between $50 and $60.
Weekly Times, 24/9/03, page 7.
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