ABA Chief Executive Officer Tim Jackson met with NSW Minister for Agriculture Dugald Saunders in Griffith recently to discuss NSW ' s approach to pollination during the current Varroa outbreak .
ABA Chief Executive Officer , Tim Jackson , witnessed firsthand the hard work put in by NSW almond growers , beekeepers and biosecurity officials to navigate the challenges of Varroa mite , during a trip to Griffith . Mr Jackson came together with other almond industry representatives , politicians and beekeepers to discuss the complex processes faced by stakeholders to get bees to properties for the almond pollination season . He said the leadership demonstrated by senior biosecurity officials from the start of the incursion had provided certainty for NSW almond growers and their beekeepers who rely on pollination revenue . “ Without this support , the economic losses to growers , beekeepers and their communities would have been a massive blow ,” Mr Jackson said . “ Now our collective challenge is to replicate this process in neighbouring states next year where the same protocols were not adopted and have resulted in a drastic shortage of hives being available for pollination . “ The fact that NSW has been able to implement processes that isolated
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This time each year , thousands upon thousands of bees are needed to pollinate almond trees - so it ' s critical we ' ve allowed bee movements with the right safeguards in place to mitigate the risk of Varroa ...
the risk of Varroa spreading and also facilitate the movement of hives from other parts of the state to our orchards is a wonderful example of balancing risk with economic impact .” A mass migration of more than 90 beekeepers and their 80,000 hives moved to Griffith to help pollinate the state ’ s $ 500 million almond crop as new measures rolled out to protect the industry from Varroa mite . Minister for Agriculture Dugald Saunders said the NSW Government acted early to contain the spread of Varroa mite while allowing the industry to keep moving . “ This time each year , thousands upon thousands of bees are needed to pollinate almond trees
- NSW Minister for Agriculture Dugald Saunders
– so it ’ s critical we ’ ve allowed bee movements with the right safeguards in place to mitigate the risk of Varroa ,” he said . “ Those safeguards have included the requirement for beekeepers to alcohol wash their hives , ensure their hives had not been in an eradication or surveillance zone in the past 24 months , and complete an online training course through Tocal College to receive a movement permit . “ We also have Forward Command Posts set up at Griffith and Balranald , with 88 surveillance officers from DPI , Local Land Services and other agencies , to help with on-site testing .”
Continued page 13 industry . australianalmonds . com . au
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