Hive movement sparks varroa concern

An estimated 300,000 hives will be transported to and from NSW, Queensland, South Australia and Victoria to pollinate almond orchards this year, sparking fears of a varroa mite increase across borders.

AgriFutures sets the stage for varroa fightback

In a critical juncture for the honeybee industry, AgriFutures Australia in partnership with the industry’s peak national representative body, the Australian Honey Bee Industry Council (AHBIC) is set to launch a suite of varroa mite (Varroa Destructor) focused resources.

Pollinus increases yields

A novel honeybee attractant enhancing the performance of bees as crop pollinators is showing its potential value in nut crops in Australia.

Biological control for fruit fly

Queensland fruit fly (Qfly) is one of Australia’s most damaging horticultural pests.

Varroa mite in spotlight

Pairing the current alcohol and soapy water washes, sugar shakes and sticky strips with laser beams, cameras, vibration detection and DNA testing, are just some of the options looked at to help beekeepers monitor their hives for Varroa Mite.

Bee a farming success

A next-generation upgrade of the world-leading BeeConnected app has been launched at Parliament House by Regional Development Minister Kristy McBain at Parliament House.

Enhancing flowering and flower retention

In the world of mango cultivation, optimising flower development and retention is crucial for ensuring successful fruit production and maximising yields.

Varroa mite found near Kempsey and Coffs

NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) tracing has uncovered a new Varroa mite infestation in beehives north of the existing Nana Glen purple zone, at Barcoogere in the Coffs Harbour region.

Beewise shows world’s first robotic beehive

The latest in cutting edge agritech is catering to a tiny but important customer – bees. US-based company, Beewise brought the world’s first robotic beehive to Australia for the first time, unveiling it at evokeAG. 2023.

Plan Bee genetics program rolls on

The ‘Plan Bee’ breeding research colonies at NSW Department of Primary Industries' Tocal College have been euthanised after falling under a Varroa mite eradication zone.

Plan Bee flies south to Tasmania

Last month a Plan Bee team made up of Nadine Chapman and Erica Mo, University of Sydney; Slavi Nenov, NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI); and Frewioni Baume (contractor for NSW DPI) headed to Tasmania, to meet with various breeders and beekeepers to collect samples and to chat about the potential impact of genetic improvement.

Early pest detection linked to eradication

With a coastline of 60,000 kilometres and almost 30,000 commercial and recreational beekeepers, Australia offers a variety of pathways for exotic pests to enter the country and multiple opportunities for beekeepers to detect them.

Inviting biodiversity benefits into tree crops

In the hills behind Byron Bay at Newrybar, the coffee pioneering Zentvelds family, are in their third year of planting cover crops in select sites across the coffee farm.