Planning for pollination of fruit crops
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EmailPollination service contracts can clarify expectations for both beekeepers and growers during crop bloom.
Early planning for pollination of fruit crops can help to ensure that you have the right number of quality honey bee colonies delivered to your farm at the right time for peak crop bloom. Oftentimes, growers will work with beekeepers to plan for hive rentals using informal “handshake” agreements, however these types of informal agreements can cause miscommunication and lead to problems with bee health or inadequate pollination. One way to avoid miscommunication with your beekeeper is to develop a formal pollination contract. While a handshake may seem like a more friendly way to do business, a contract can clarify expectations and lead to a long-lasting business relationship that benefits both fruit growers and beekeepers.
Pollination service contracts can cover specific topics relevant to pollination during spring bloom such as:
- Rental fee and date payable
- Dates when bees should be moved in and out of crop
- Hive placement and vehicle accessibility
- Strength of colonies and if/how they will be inspected
- Pesticide application standards and agreements
- Availability of uncontaminated water sources for bees
- Potential injury (bee stings)
- Colony loss by vandalism, theft, or natural disaster
- Proper contact information and modes of communication
View examples of pollination service contracts.
Once the bees have arrived on site for pollination, it is important to protect your investment in bee colonies and optimize your crop pollination potential by minimizing health risks to bees while on your farm. One essential way to promote healthy honey bee hives on your farm is to reduce pesticide applications and pesticide exposure to pollinators whenever possible. Use pest scouting, trapping and Michigan State University Enviroweather pest models to determine when applications are necessary. Try to make pesticide applications during times when bees aren’t actively flying, such as after sunset or before sunrise, or when temperatures are under 50 degrees Fahrenheit. For more tips on minimizing pesticide risk to bees in fruit crops, review pollinator stewardship resources from Michigan State University Extension and resources for growers from Michigan State University Pollinator Initiative.
Acknowledgment
This work is supported by the Crop Protection and Pest Management Program [grant no 2021-70006-35450] from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Thank you to the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for securing funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for Michigan State University to implement strategies in the Michigan Pollinator Protection Plan.
