Bee group asks for council cash

Bees are in need of nutritious trees and a national apiarists' group has asked for Masterton District Council's help to fund its programme.

In a written annual plan submission, Bee Friendly Farming Group chairman Ross Little asked the council to contribute to a project that determines which plants are most nutritious for honey bees.

Mr Little said the group had obtained funding from the Sustainable Farming Fund (SFF) for the past three years to analyse plants' pollen protein content.

"We now need to continue the project to deliver a list of plants with sufficient diversity to meet the needs of anyone planting trees for bees, including councils.

"The continuation of the SFF Trees for Bees project depends on us finding co-funding to support our new bid," he said.

The scheme was initiated by Federated Farmers, with support from the beekeeping industry. Mr Little said the greatest value of the programme "will be in determining the best plants to provide nutrition for bees in the periods of pollen shortage either side of the main summer honey season".

He said the project was beneficial in terms of sustainability and biodiversity.

"It would be difficult to find a more cost-effective agent than a honey bee pollinating. They need our help.

"The honey bee is of great value to New Zealand through the pollination of flowers in both urban and rural areas."

The arrival of the varroa mite and other diseases have wiped out feral colonies of honey bees and beekeepers faced considerable cost in treating their managed hives.

"Some have given up and the introduction of bee hives is generally limited to commercial crops which can cover the costs," he said.

"This has serious implications for pollination in both urban and rural areas."