News & Events

BEEing smarter about border security

12/01/2015 – 3:49 pm Sneaking into Australia through northern ports just got harder for exotic bees and pests, with the installation of a network of 20 hives monitored by mobile phone cameras and sensors. The hives have been deployed as part of a national trial by the National Bee Pest Surveillance Program (NBPSP) in Brisbane, Gladstone, Weipa and Darwin […] Read more

App for farmers and beekeepers to help protect pollinators

25/09/2014 – 4:11 pm Australian farmers and beekeepers now have access to a world-first smart-phone application to help ensure the safety of bees during normal farming practices. CropLife Australia today launched BeeConnected, a first of its kind geomap based, user-driven communication and coordination tool to help protect Australia’s honey bee population. Chief Executive Officer of CropLife Australia, Matthew Cossey, […] Read more

Biosecurity plan an investment for award finalist

26/08/2014 – 12:56 pm According to Lindsay Bourke, finalist in the 2014 Plant Biosecurity Farmer of the Year Award, a biosecurity plan is an investment in the future of a business and the community. The beekeeper manages 3,600 hives for honey production and the pollination of over 80 crops. The main product of his company Australian Honey Products is […] Read more

Varroa jacobsoni – a new pest threat of honey bees

27/06/2014 – 5:12 am Varroa jacobsoni is a parasitic mite that has emerged as a serious pest of European honeybees (Apis mellifera) following a recent jump from its natural host, the Asian honeybee (Apis cerana). A recent report by CSIRO has shown for the first time this mite reproducing on European honey bees. Read more

Improving pollination outcomes under netting

27/06/2014 – 4:58 am The use of netting to protect crops from hail, wind and birds is becoming increasingly popular among fruit growers but it can seriously affect pollination. Trevor Monson, who coordinates the placement of thousands of hives each year for orchardists and other growers, says the key to getting the most from honeybees is to talk to […] Read more