Media Releases

Bee biosecurity officer appointed in NSW

05/04/2016 – 9:57 am Beekeepers in NSW now have an advisor on hand to help them keep their hives free from pests and diseases. Hayley Pragert has started work in the new role of Bee Biosecurity Officer as part of a joint industry–government initiative to look after Australia’s honey bees. Alison Saunders, Horticultural Cropping Manager at Plant Health Australia […] Read more

Wanted: Bee biosecurity officers

27/01/2016 – 12:08 pm Healthier hives and better beekeepers will be the end result of the appointment of new extension staff across the country, tasked with improving the management of existing bee pests and diseases, and boosting surveillance for exotic pests such as Varroa mite. The Bee Biosecurity Officers will be funded by around $400,000 of industry funds through […] Read more

Healthy bee population proves good for exports

03/11/2015 – 3:18 pm Australia’s first national survey of honey bee viruses has found we have one of the healthiest honey bee (Apis mellifera) populations in the world – a key step in re-establishing and maintaining export markets for breeding stock. The last survey was conducted almost 30 years ago and only in eastern Australia, and the significant gaps […] Read more

Beekeepers to bolster productivity with new training videos

29/10/2015 – 12:39 pm With hundreds of beekeepers starting out in the industry each year, training is vital to ensure they learn and follow best practice when it comes to the basic skills. A series of new videos is now available online and will be provided to Registered Training Organisations offering relevant courses, with all of Australia’s estimated 12,400 […] Read more

Simulation exercise shows crop producers need to BEE vigilant

22/07/2015 – 12:30 pm Restricting the movement of hives would be the best way to stop the spread of an exotic pest of honey bees – but could have a significant impact on the production of fruits, vegetables and nuts if it happened during pollination season. This is one of the main findings from a simulation exercise carried out […] Read more