ALMOND growers in the north-west are sweating on a last-minute reprieve to get the necessary beehives to pollinate this season’s forecast $500 million harvest.
The Victorian Government continues to remain steadfast that it will not allow much of the 150,000 to 200,000 hives needed into the state from New South Wales following the discovery of the potentially devastating varroa mite in the north-east.
While Agriculture Victoria is allowing permits to be issued to Victorian, Queensland and South Australian beekeepers allowing them to enter the regions, the Almond Board of Australia says that move does not go far enough.
Agriculture Victoria said it would continue to review the situation and consider making amendments to the permit system as conditions change, however bees, hives, equipment and bee products from New South Wales remain prohibited from entering Victoria.
Victoria’s chief plant health officer Dr Rosa Crnov said the permit system had been extended to include South Australia and Queensland to ensure bees could be sourced for Victoria’s almond pollination to go ahead.
But Almond Board of Australia CEO Tim Jackson said time was of the essence to ensure the full value of the almond production could be realised this year.
Mr Jackson said growers were facing the same cross-border access challenges experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic for the past two years about accessing NSW-based beehives for their orchards.
“We are facing the very same predicament, but instead of the health of the beekeepers being in question, this time it is the bees,” Almond Board of Australia CEO Tim Jackson said.
“The shutdown means there will not be enough hives available to meet the needs of these growers,” he said.
“In normal years, they source beehives from Queensland, NSW, South Australia and Victoria to pollinate their orchards, but without access to NSW hives there just won’t be enough this year.”
Almond growers have called for the creation of a beehive biosecurity bubble to be created within the regions to facilitate the pollination of their crop next month.
“We are exploring all options in the hope of finding a solution that works within the guidelines of the National Response Plan and also brings surety to growers and beekeepers on both sides of the border at this very difficult time,” Mr Jackson said.”We understand there is reluctance from beekeepers outside NSW to put their hives in the same orchards as NSW hives, so creating designated orchards exclusively stocked with NSW beehives seems like the most sensible solution.”
Mr Jackson said pollination appeared set to come early this year, and nominated July 24 “to hopefully get something sorted”.
He said latest discussions with Victorian Government officials suggested they were open to look at anything that can help Victorian growers and beekeepers.
“We will certainly be working with Victorian biosecurity officials around this bubble proposal,” he said.
“Right now, there is certainly frustration that despite our industry’s hefty commitment to eradicate varroa, we are facing industry losses of at least $400 million if we can’t develop these bee bubbles right on the Victoria border.
“We believe they represent a viable win-win solution that enables the Victorian Government to maintain their stated risk level while allowing our almond growers to get on with pollination in the coming days.
“I’ve had reports that bud burst has already started so we’re running against the clock.”
