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From: [log in to unmask]
Message-ID: <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Sat, 15 Jan 2000 09:43:39 EST
Subject: Re: Alfalfa Pollination
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In a message dated 1/14/00 1:59:33 PM Pacific Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
<< I have a feeling I am about to be called off to the races but,
then
again I don't think we discuss pollination enough. >>
Hmmmm... all I have to do is leave for awhile, and suddenly everyone is
talking pollination. Hmmmmm...
Harry Whitcomb's book, "Bees are My Business" tells the story of the
beginnings of alfalfa pollination with honeybees in great detail. It has
quite an interesting note on how Utah destroyed its alfalfa seed industry by
banning migratory beekeepers. The industry thought the bees were damaging
the
flowers! The book is out of print, but you probably can get it thru the
library. Whitcomb knew that bees were helping the alfalfa pollination, but,
at the levels that beekeepers stocked bees for honey, seed yields were poor.
He was sure that higher stocking levels would accomplish more seed. No
grower
was willing to pay for more bees, and no beekeeper was willing to put more
bees out, just to share the nectar resource with more hives.
So he and a young extension agent negotiated an agreement with one seed
grower to stock a very high rate of hives per acre, in exchange for a
percentage of all the crop yield over what was then considered a high yield.
Harry and the seed grower both made a bundle, and the alfalfa seed industry
quickly saw that they'd get cheaper bees, if they paid for them, per hive.
So a whole industry was born in California, and Utah never got back its
prominance in the alfalfa seed industry.
McGregor has already been mentioned as another resource.
One key thing is that alfalfa is easy to evaluate. If pollination is
poor,
the flowers remain fresh and bright colored for a long time. If you have
good
bee activity, they will wilt within a couple hours. The whole field seems to
change color. If you get that quick color change, you got the job done.
Honeybees will learn that they get clunked by the tripping of the flower,
and the older bees will learn to get nectar without being hit (and thereby
not accomplishing pollination). You need to keep a high population of young
bees, that are still too stupid to evade the blow.
Dave
http://pollinator.com
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