3 Things Growers Should Do to Prepare for Hive Arrival

Before honey bees arrive in the orchard for pollination, growers should communicate thoroughly with their beekeepers and other pollination stakeholders to ensure the smoothest bloom possible.

Here are three things growers and beekeepers should determine before hive arrival:

• Decide on a bee drop-off area. Growers should provide a clean area for beekeepers to deliver their hives and keep access roads maintained and free of obstructions.
• Decide where to place hives. Growers and beekeepers should agree on hive locations that...
  • have appropriate buffers between pesticide-treated areas and colonies,
  •  are accessible and convenient at all hours for servicing and removal,
  • have eastern and southern exposures for hive openings to encourage honey bee flight,
  • are near flowering forage before and after bloom, if possible, and
  • are away from areas prone to shade or flooding.
• Plan for notification prior to pesticide application. Beekeepers within a 1-mile radius of an application site must be notified prior to application of pesticides. Make sure you, your PCA and pesticide applicator create a plan that covers what application/s will be used and who is in charge of notifying the beekeeper through the BeeWhere program or county ag commissioner.
  • Beekeepers are encouraged to register their hives through the BeeWhere program, which offers beekeepers a real-time geographic information system where they can mark hives with a pin drop in the orchard via a mobile app. Information on the BeeWhere program may be found at BeeWhereCalifornia.com.

For more tips on how to maintain honey bee health before, during and after bloom, growers and other pollination stakeholders are encouraged to reference the Almond Board of California’s Honey Bee Best Management Practices at Almonds.com/Pollination.