Impact Of Honey Bees
On Crop Production
Phillip Carter
Regional Extension Agent
Houston County Extension Office
What Is Pollination?
Pollination is the transfer of pollen from the
male part of a flower to the female part.
Pollination
• “major” crops
– Almonds
– Fruits - apples, berries, etc
– Vegetables, primarily vine crops
•
•
•
•
Over 90 crops
Value . $14 billion annually
1/3rd of our diet from bee pollinated crops
Increasing, not diminishing, demand
FERTILIZATION is accomplished
when the male sex cell is transferred via
the pollen tube and fuses with the female
egg nucleus within the ovule to form a
zygote.
SELF POLLINATION
Pollen is transferred from the anther to the
stigma of the same flower, other flowers of
the same plant or other plants of identical
genetic material “clones”.
CROSS POLLINATION
Pollen is transferred from a flower on one
plant to a flower on another plant that is
not genetically the same.
Some plants have separate male
(staminate) and female (pistillate) flowers.
 On same plant (Monoecious)
 On separate plants (Dioecious)
Plants have evolved flowers which
attract bees through:

color

scent

nectar guides

shape
To maximize discovery and exploitation.
Honey Bees - Important Pollinators
• Available in early spring in
large numbers
• $15 billion industry
– Put them where we want
them, when we need them
• One third of food we eat
pollinated by bees
• Floral consistency
• Forage over large area
• Manageable
©2001 D. Sammataro
photo
HONEY BEES ARE OUR
BEST POLLINATORS
• They can be moved in
great numbers
• They are efficient
• They are organized
and concentrate on one
crop at a time
To Date, No Commercially
Satisfactory Substitute For
Bee Pollination Has Been
Found For Any Major
Insect-Pollinated Crop
Pollination, as a commercial
business, provides the
beekeeper an opportunity to
increase their income and
build more financial security
in their business.
Honey Bees Are Indispensable To
American Agriculture
Know Your Crops!!!
•
•
•
•
When does it bloom?
How long does it bloom?
How many hives per acre?
What does the Grower want?
Pumpkin
How many?
• Varies w/ crop
• Varies w/ beekeeper
• 75%+ col minimum strength
– For example cucumber in eastern US
•
•
•
•
•
1 col for every 3-4 acres (small fields near woods)
1-3 col/acre (larger fields in agricultural area)
2 col/acre (high density)
1 bee/100 flowers
1 col/50,000 plants (w/ appropriate ♂/♀ ratio)
Foraging Areas of Honey
Bees
Beehive
Bees fly on average up to
2 miles from their colony.
This gives them over 8000
acres to forage.
Distance
Distance + Direction
Know Your Crops!!!
• What kind of pest/herbicides are used?
• What work goes on during bloom?
• Pollinator Handbook www.beeculture.com
Know Your Bees!!!
•
•
•
•
•
How Many Adult Bees?
How Much Brood?
How Many Mites?
How Much AFB?
How Many SHB?
Colony Management
•
•
•
•
•
Only healthy hives
Queen right
Presentable
Open brood
Adult Bees
The Ideal Pollination Colony?
• Standard equipment in good shape
• Strong population (4+ frames adults & brood)
• Slightly inadequate pollen stores
• Adequate honey stores
• Queen-right
• Gentle
Educate your Grower
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Don’t know much about bees
Are (somewhat) suspicious
Reluctantly depend on you
Watch entrance activity
Don’t want dandelions pollinated
Want to see bees working very hard
May want to spray
Open a hive with them, but don’t get them stung
Pollination Contracts
• Number & strength of colonies
•
•
•
•
Plan of colony distribution
Time of delivery and removal
Beekeepers right of entry
Degree of protection from
pesticides
• Plan for payment(s)
• Penalities for poor
colonies/service
• Bonus for excellent service
Pollination Contracts
TERMS OF AGREEMENT
• Date of movement of bees into the crop, or the time
relative to a certain condition of bloom, and the date on
which bees are to be removed.
• Location of crop
• Number and strength of colonies
• Pattern of colony placement
• Rental fee and the date(s) on which it is payable
• Statement of colony ownership
Pollination Contracts
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE BEEKEEPER
• Quality of hives
• Timely placement of hives after notice
• Management of colonies
• Open randomly selected colonies to show strength
• Swarm retrieval
• Timely removal of hives after notice
• How much notice
Pollination Contracts
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE GROWER
• Provide suitable location to place hives
• Give right of entry to beekeeper for management of bees.
• Not to apply bee-toxic pesticides while bees are in the crop
• Give the beekeeper 48 hours notice if spraying is necessary
• Not allow spray to puddle
• Warn beekeeper of other spraying in the area
• Reimburse the beekeeper for additional colony movements
• Pay at time agreed upon
• Supply water source
Pollination On A Handshake
•
•
•
•
•
This seems to be how most do it
Probably not the best way
Asking for a contracts can be awkward
Get job at the last minute
Doing it for a friend
Pollinator Sayings
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
“What ….you need them tomorrow”
“This old truck will make it.”
“No one predicted rain.”
“Is that gate locked?”
“I thought you had the matches.”
“He won’t know the difference.”
“I won’t forget where they are.”
“What…. you left the duct tape on the bumper”
“We’ll close em tonight when we pick em up”
When to Move Bees on Target Crop
• Some bloom is present
• Reduce the likelihood of competitive
sources
• Large acreages that have gradual full bloom
bees can be brought in with 2 moves over a
10 day period
• Grower may require bee placement
Moving The Bees
•
•
•
•
•
Get them ready during the day
Ventilation if hot or large populations
Strap, staple, nail
Clear and mow around hives
Find a friend
(A Few Good Ones)
Moving The Bees
• What will you move them on
Distribution Of Colonies
•
•
•
•
•
•
Best coverage for pollination is in groups 500’ intervals
The closer the colonies to target crop the better
New location 3-5 day period 50-100 yards foraging
Farther the foraging less efficient the pollination
< 40 acres groups at outside borders of field
> 500’ across groups at center of borders should have
more colonies
• Groups of hives can be >4
Factors To Successful
Pollination
• Favorable Weather
• Adequate Pollinator Population
Adequate Pollination Results
In:
•
•
•
•
Increased Yields
Faster Maturing Fruit
Improved Fruit Quality (Shape, Size)
Increased Sugar/ Oil Content
Bees Are Necessary In The
Pollination Of Vine Crops
• Two Types Of Flowers Are
Found On The Vines
• Pollen Is Dense And Sticky
How Many Bee Visits Are Needed?
As The Number Of Seed
Increases, So Does Weight
And Sweetness