Eye on the hive
Four beehives have been set up at Agriculture Victoria’s Mildura SmartFarm for a new surveillance project looking into improved prevention and response options to significant pest and disease incursions.
As part of the Victoria Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub project, researchers will track the hives over the next six months and collect data on hive health. This data will be translated into informative fact sheets tailored for a range of audiences.
The project will be supported by the Mallee Regional Innovation Centre (North-West Irrigated Horticulture Node), which will conduct consultations with apiarists and horticulturists at each stage of the project to ensure it meets the needs of end users.
Agriculture Victoria research scientist Dr Jessica Henneken said it would be interesting to see what information the team collected and, down the track, how that information could be useful for beekeepers to better take care of their hives.
“We were in Mildura earlier this month putting trackers inside the hives to record to temperature and humidity, and we will return when it’s warm enough to open up the hives again,” Jessica said.
Dr Jessica Henneken installing trackers under the lid of a hive.
We’ll be collecting samples from the hives, including bees, some produce – beeswax and honey, and debris from the bottom of the hives. Then we are going to perform some molecular tests to look at what pathogens and pests might be present in the hives.
Jessica said it would also be helpful to track the hives as they are moved around throughout the season to allow the bees to pollinate fruits and vegetables as they are flowering.
“Bees are so crucial to everything – our fruits, vegetables, and our native flowers,” she said.
These tiny little creatures do so much for us. The broader impact of having really healthy hives is important for human health and our environment.
Apiarist Trevor Monson with Dr Jessica Henneken
The Centre is involved in other new Vic Drought and Innovation Hub projects, in areas including climate resilience and agriculture exports. We will bring you updates on these activities in future newsletters.