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Commercial Beekeeping in Australia

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Commercial Beekeeping in Australia cial Bee r ke e e m p i m n o g C in Australia A Report for the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation by Frederick S. Benecke RIRDC Pub. No. 03/037 RIRDC Project No. FSB-1A Commercial Beekeeping in Australia A report for the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation by Frederick S Benecke May 2003 RIRDC Publication No 03/037 RIRDC Project No FSB-1A © 2003 Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation. All rights reserved. ISBN 0 642 58605 5 ISSN 1440-6845 Commercial Beekeeping in Australia Publication No. 03/037 Project No. FSB-1A The views expressed and the conclusions reached in this publication are those of the author and not necessarily those of persons consulted. RIRDC shall not be responsible in any way whatsoever to any person who relies in whole or in part on the contents of this report. This publication is copyright. However, RIRDC encourages wide dissemination of its research, providing the Corporation is clearly acknowledged. For any other enquiries concerning reproduction, contact the Publications Manager on phone 02 6272 3186. Researcher Contact Details Frederick S Benecke 27 The Chase Road TURRAMURRA NSW 2074 Phone: (02) 9487 2828 Email: [email protected] In submitting this report, the researcher has agreed to RIRDC publishing this material in its edited form. RIRDC Contact Details Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation Level 1, AMA House 42 Macquarie Street BARTON ACT 2600 PO Box 4776 KINGSTON ACT 2604 Phone: 02 6272 4539 Fax: 02 6272 5877 Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.rirdc.gov.au Published in May 2003 Printed by Union Offset Pty Ltd ii Foreword The report, Commercial Beekeeping in Australia, represents a snapshot of beekeeping industry at the beginning of the third millennium. It describes the physical and cultural environment in which beekeeping is undertaken and describes production methods commonly employed by beekeepers. This project was funded from industry revenue which is matched by funds provided by the Federal Government. The Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation recognises that beekeeping practices have developed in this country to meet its unique conditions of climate and of flora. Australian beekeepers have shown great ingenuity in devising methods of production and patterns of management that has led to a successful national beekeeping industry. RIRDC believes these achievements are worth recording, both as an historical document, but more importantly, as a reference for those contemplating a career in beekeeping and for students of Australian primary production. In their endeavours beekeepers have been assisted, particularly in recent years, by world standard research. RIRDC, through its Honeybee Research and Development Committee, is pleased to be a vital part of the national apicultural research effort. This report is an addition to RIRDC’s diverse range of over 900 research publications. Most of our publications are available for viewing, downloading or purchasing online through our website: ! downloads at www.rirdc.gov.au/reports/Index.htm ! purchases at www.rirdc.gov.au/eshop Simon Hearn Managing Director Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation iii Contents Foreword ............................................................................................................................................... iii 1. Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1 2. Industry Overview........................................................................................................................... 2 The Industry by States ..................................................................................................................................... 3 Apiary Products Other Than Bulk Honey........................................................................................................ 5 Pollination........................................................................................................................................................ 6 Marketing......................................................................................................................................................... 6 Legislation ....................................................................................................................................................... 7 Producer Organisations.................................................................................................................................... 7 Bee Diseases .................................................................................................................................................... 8 3. Resource Base ................................................................................................................................ 9 The Resource Base........................................................................................................................................... 9 Physical Changes ........................................................................................................................................... 10 Biological Control of Weeds ......................................................................................................................... 13 Access to the Resource Base.......................................................................................................................... 14 Present Position.............................................................................................................................................. 17 4. Nutrition and Hive Management.................................................................................................. 21 The Weather................................................................................................................................................... 21 Swarming....................................................................................................................................................... 22 Migratory Beekeeping ................................................................................................................................... 22 Migration Patterns.......................................................................................................................................... 22 New Knowledge ............................................................................................................................................ 28 Supplementary Feeding ................................................................................................................................. 30 Watering Bees................................................................................................................................................ 31 5. Equipment...................................................................................................................................... 32 Hive Materials................................................................................................................................................ 32 Moving Hives ................................................................................................................................................ 34 Harvesting Honey .......................................................................................................................................... 35 Extracting Honey ........................................................................................................................................... 36 Beeswax Production ...................................................................................................................................... 37 Pollen Production........................................................................................................................................... 37 Quality Assurance (QA) ................................................................................................................................ 38 6. Pollination...................................................................................................................................... 39 Can Pollination be Valued? ........................................................................................................................... 39 Pollination in Australia .................................................................................................................................. 40 State by State ................................................................................................................................................. 40 Almond Pollination........................................................................................................................................ 44 7. Queen Bees and Packages .......................................................................................................... 46 Importations................................................................................................................................................... 46 Quarantine...................................................................................................................................................... 46 Genetic Improvement Programs ...................................................................................................................
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