bob10
4th March 2014, 09:28 PM
A side of the bush fires not often spoken about, Bob
Extract from the Northside beekeepers association newsletter Feb. 2014
Fire has ripped thru bee-keeping sites, already depleted by dry conditions. It is estimated almost 100 winter feeding sites have been destroyed in the Ngarkat & Bangor bushfires, while other feeding sites were damaged in fires on private property. S. Aus. Apiarists Association president Ian Roberts says the loss of feed could affect the pollination of important horticultural crops in the state. "The sites that have been damaged are what we call ' wintering sites' where we can place the bees over winter because these sites are good honey flow and pollination sources during winter. If we haven't got them, we will have significantly to take to pollination, which will then have a flow on effect because they wont be able to do their jobs as good as they could."
The last month has seen huge bushfires burn tens of thousands of hectares across South Australia. The largest bushfire was in the Ngarkat conservation park, in the states upper south east. It burnt more than 70,000 hectares. Tintinara beekeeper's suggest 11 sites have been burned. The sites are vital for the bee pollination business- servicing areas of the Riverland almond industry from July to August . Over winter, sites are important to keep bees in order to service the almond industry, a pollination job 100% reliant on bees.
In Wirribara, the fire wiped out 85 % of the grey box eucalypts, a good tree for honey production. It is estimated it will be 10 or 20 years before the regrowth comes back.
thanks to ABC rural news
Not so sweet for South Australian beekeepers - ABC Rural (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-02-12/sach-sa-bee-crisis/5238136)
Extract from the Northside beekeepers association newsletter Feb. 2014
Fire has ripped thru bee-keeping sites, already depleted by dry conditions. It is estimated almost 100 winter feeding sites have been destroyed in the Ngarkat & Bangor bushfires, while other feeding sites were damaged in fires on private property. S. Aus. Apiarists Association president Ian Roberts says the loss of feed could affect the pollination of important horticultural crops in the state. "The sites that have been damaged are what we call ' wintering sites' where we can place the bees over winter because these sites are good honey flow and pollination sources during winter. If we haven't got them, we will have significantly to take to pollination, which will then have a flow on effect because they wont be able to do their jobs as good as they could."
The last month has seen huge bushfires burn tens of thousands of hectares across South Australia. The largest bushfire was in the Ngarkat conservation park, in the states upper south east. It burnt more than 70,000 hectares. Tintinara beekeeper's suggest 11 sites have been burned. The sites are vital for the bee pollination business- servicing areas of the Riverland almond industry from July to August . Over winter, sites are important to keep bees in order to service the almond industry, a pollination job 100% reliant on bees.
In Wirribara, the fire wiped out 85 % of the grey box eucalypts, a good tree for honey production. It is estimated it will be 10 or 20 years before the regrowth comes back.
thanks to ABC rural news
Not so sweet for South Australian beekeepers - ABC Rural (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-02-12/sach-sa-bee-crisis/5238136)