If you are passionate about pollination, get ready to hunt for stingless native bees as part of free workshops for macadamia and avocado growers.

The workshops, on March 5 and 6, are designed for growers who are looking for ways to improve productivity and support the natural ecosystems on their farms.

Presented by native bee specialists, the two field days will be held at local farms and include information sharing presentations, Q&A opportunities, farm walks, insect hunts (yes you get a net) and demonstrations of native bee management.

Presenters include local growers who will showcase their approaches to increasing diversity in orchard management. 

They are joined by industry specialists in native bee management, Dr Megan Halcroft of Bees Business, and a hive of researchers from the Western Sydney University’s Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment. 

There are also unique opportunities to look at habitat restoration and novel crops on the different properties.

“Honey bees are excellent pollinators of many crops, but the burden placed on their health by pests and diseases is heavy,” Dr Halcroft said.

“Added to that, the looming threat of a Varroa mite incursion makes our reliance on honey bees for pollination decidedly risky.”

The workshops and informed by an innovative research project “Stingless bees as effective managed pollinators for Australian horticulture” by the Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment.

The project’s overall objective is to investigate and develop potential alternative, native insect pollinators for use in horticultural crops. 

“The leading candidates are stingless bees, because they can be managed in hives, just as honey bees are, and moved into crops as required,” Dr Halcroft said.

“Native stingless bees live in colonies and visit a variety of plants. 

“We already know that where they are used in macadamia crops, their pollination services outperform honeybees. 

“The field days will expand on how growers can optimise the health and wellbeing of native stingless bees in the whole orchard environment.”

Participants must wear covered shoes and bring a hat and drinking water. Venue address provided on registration.

Delicious local produce-filled lunches will be provided and researchers will lead walks into the farms to help you get up close and personal with the insects in the orchard, with nets and jars.

You'll see inside a stingless bee hive and hear from a local growers how native bees have enhanced their enterprise.

The events are organized by The Richmond Landcare Inc and the Lismore City Council with Western Sydney University Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment and is sponsored by Hort Innovation.

Presentation topics will include:

The importance of pollination

How native bees and other pollinators perform their services

The value of insect pollinators to the macadamia and avocado industries

Potential problems we will face if/when Varroa mite arrives in Australia and how we can prepare

Demonstration of Interrow management for floristic diversity and how to achieve Integrated Pest Management

Practical examples of the importance of supporting native bee populations, through plantings and habitat conservation, and how this will support all pollinating insects to ensure their presence during crop bloom.

The free workshops will be held on Thursday 5 and Friday 6 March, 9am to 2pm at two farms near Alstonville and Lindendale (addresses provided on registration).

Register for the Avocado event via Eventbrite https://avocadosnativebeesfieldday.eventbrite.com

Register for the Macadamia event by phoning Lismore City Council on 1300 87 83 87