AN irate bee keeper is calling for farmers to take care when spraying insecticides after a third of his bees were killed near Koraleigh.
Newbridge Honey Company owner Michael Holland lost the working bees when a neighbouring farmer sprayed insecticides.
The bees were strategically placed on a canola farming property to assist with pollination in what Mr Holland described as a win/win situation.
“Our bees increase the canola farmers seed yield by up to 20 per cent,” he said.
“The working bees fly within a two mile radius from their boxes and can easily be seen.
“It’s important that pilots or farmers are aware of what is happening on their neighbours farm before they spray insecticides.”
Mr Holland places his bees on multiple properties around the state and said the spraying had killed half his working bee stock.
“When this happens it’s devastating for us,” he said.
“If it continues to happen it will mean we have to reconsider whether it is safe for us to keep placing our bees in the area and that’s as much a loss for local farmers as it is for us.”
“If I wanted to sue, I could have the dead bees analysed by (the primary industries department), and if it is proven they died from a particular spray purchased by a particular farmer, they are liable for my loss and damage.”
For more on this story grab a copy of Friday’s Guardian (September 16 2016)
