Learn More About Blueberry Bee Protection Protocols
Oregon is the largest producer of fresh blueberries in the U.S. — a feat accomplished through the help of honey bees. Blueberry growers and beekeepers work together to safeguard these essential pollinators when conducting pest-control applications. There are steps you can take to protect bees while fending off pests and disease.
Highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) requires insect pollination to set high levels of fruit. Although blueberry flowers can self-pollinate, this typically does not happen without the assistance of insect visitors. Moreover, some blueberry cultivars will set larger berries when crossed with pollen from different cultivars, which is only possible when insects move pollen between flowers on different bushes. High rates of insect visitation during bloom are essential to sustaining blueberry yields for growers.
Although there have been attempts to introduce managed bumble bees for blueberry pollination, a combination of Oregon law prohibiting bumble bee species not native to Oregon and the high cost of managed native bumble bee species has resulted in a situation where commercial pollination is almost exclusively provided by managed honey bees (Apis mellifera).
RELATED CONTENT: Grow Bigger Berries Through Better Pollination
Blueberry growers and beekeepers have had a strong relationship that is mutually beneficial. Together, they have established standard practices, outlined here, to ensure sustained partnership around three key areas:
- Honey bee pollination (the strength, placement and timing of movement of honey bee colonies).
- Pest management during bloom.
- Maintaining clear communication among all growers, applicators, crop consultants and beekeepers leading up to the placement of colonies until their removal.
For more on bee protection protocol, continue reading at extension.oregonstate.edu.
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