WCN Dec e

More documents

Recommendations

Info

START THINKING ABOUT POLLINATOR CONTRACTS BEEKEEPERS SAY CONTRACTS ARE WELCOMED ‘SOONER RATHER THAN LATER’ By CECILIA PARSONS | Associate Editor Harvest is over. Mummies are shaken and swept. Is it time to think about almond pollination? According to bee brokers and beekeepers, tighter supplies this year and increasing demand for pollination services mean almond growers need to contract for hives early and plan ahead for their arrival in the orchards. In addition to costs, hive numbers and arrival time, beekeepers need to know if the hives will be secure from theft, if pesticide applications will be made, if there is a water supply and the timing of payments (photo by Marni Katz.) New Era of Pollinator Contracts Denise Qualls, a bee broker with Pollination Connection, said contracts with growers are welcomed sooner rather than later to ensure an adequate honeybee supply. Some almond growers do book early, she said, but for the most part, growers don’t think about bees until after harvest. Many contracts are signed in <strong>Dec</strong>ember and January, but bees are still being booked in February. Qualls said the days of a handshake to secure pollination service might be over. “Most growers and brokers now have written contracts that spell out terms for pollination services including price, delivery time and hive strength,” Qualls said. Conditions spelled out in the contract can ensure the grower receives the pollination service necessary for setting a crop. The contract also can ensure beekeepers are fairly compensated for their time and investment in healthy, strong hives. Verbal agreements worked back when hives were renting for less than $100 and far fewer acres of almonds were grown. Now, Qualls said, demand for strong hives to cover all almond ground in the state requires that both sides agree on exact terms and put them in writing. Josette Lewis, chief scientific officer with Almond Board of California said ABC recommends growers sign contracts for pollination service. There needs to be clear understanding and communication between the growers and beekeeper. A sample contract is available at ABC’s website Number of full frames per hive is a key element in a contract, Lewis said. A third party inspector can verify the hive strength for the grower. County Agricultural Commissioners’ offices should provide inspector information. Working Together Steve House, director of operations at California Almond Pollination Service, said once a grower finds a good beekeeper and a beekeeper finds a good grower, they each have an integral component in their supply chain and a major factor in the success of their businesses. Both parties need to understand the success of one depends on the success of the other. In addition to costs, hive numbers and arrival time, House said beekeepers need to know if the hives will be secure from theft, if pesticide applications will be made, if there is a water supply and the timing of payments. Important considerations for almond growers are hive strength and confirmation of arrival time in the orchard, generally no later than 5% Continued on Page 58 56 West Coast Nut <strong>Dec</strong>ember 2021
WE WILL PUMP YoU UP with our mycorrhizal products POWER UP YOUR PLANTS Ask us about our other soil care products. • BACTERIAL Inoculants • Soil Products • Biological Food Products • Micro Nutrients • Foliar Nutrients Contact Us Today at 1-800-279-9567 callnrg.com
Page 1:
WEST COAST NUT Your DECEMBER 2021 I
Page 4 and 5:
ADVANCED HAWKEYE INFRARED SORTING T
Page 6 and 7: Navel Orangeworm Rejects on the Ris
Page 8 and 9: Continued from Page 6 Make timely h
Page 10 and 11: Larvae can overwinter in mummies le
Page 12 and 13: View from the Top ‘The Role of th
Page 14 and 15: Continued from Page 13 Q: What are
Page 16 and 17: Planning for Nitrogen Efficiency fo
Page 18 and 19: Continued from Page 17 The sheer to
Page 20 and 21: CARB Updating Regulations for Truck
Page 22 and 23: Continued from Page 21 which would
Page 24 and 25: WEIGHING IN ON ALMOND PROFITABILITY
Page 26 and 27: RBICIDE EC EC FOR ORGANIC FOR ORGAN
Page 28 and 29: RESTORING SOIL HEALTH AND ECOSYSTEM
Page 30 and 31: Continued from Page 29 exuded by mi
Page 32 and 33: Continued from Page 32 Further rese
Page 34 and 35: WINTER PREP IN WALNUTS Start Thinki
Page 36 and 37: Continued from Page 35 When samplin
Page 38 and 39: TIPS FOR FINANCIAL PLANNING THROUGH
Page 40 and 41: Jeff Bowman at Grimbleby Coleman CP
Page 42 and 43: Almond Pollination 2022: Economic O
Page 44: Average Colony Strength Requirement
Page 47 and 48: The grower agrees to… No pesticid
Page 49 and 50: Omar Navarro 559-470-4910 onavarro@
Page 51 and 52: Fit: Ideal for new plantings. A pre
Page 53 and 54: tors to their crops and our ecosyst
Page 55: Better coverage. Maximum performanc
Page 59 and 60: Demand for strong hives to cover al
Page 61 and 62: In conjunction with REGISTER AT wcn
Page 63 and 64: after harvest. Stored at 35 degrees
Page 66 and 67: Continued from Page 64 some growers
Page 68 and 69: What It Could Mean for Californians
Page 70 and 71: Interested in organic articles? SUB
Page 72 and 73: Continued from Page 71 Fillmore sai
Page 74 and 75: A WORD FROM THE BOARD: THE CALIFORN
Page 76 and 77: JOSEPH JACKSON ON “DOING WHAT MAT
Page 78 and 79: California Legislative Recap for 20
Page 80: Continued from Page 78 and maintain
Page 83 and 84: APC’s newly-introduced quarterly
Page 85 and 86: GET AHEAD OF FIRE ANTS TREAT NOW WI
Page 87 and 88: There are two main ant pests in alm
Page 89 and 90: West Coast Nut is excited to collab
Page 91 and 92: DAY 2 CE TRACK WORKSHOPS 8:00 AM 8:
show all

WCN Dec e

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?