5.3 Farmer: Agrochemical Practices
Besides habitat conservation and agricultural land-use practices, both farmers and
the general public can alter the type, amount, and timing of pesticide application to
help reduce or eliminate risk to bees. Ideally, pesticides are best avoided whenever
possible, but if they must be used, these strategies are recommended.
5.3.1 Pesticide Usage
Use the least toxic pesticides when possible and follow label instructions, starting
with the minimum manufacture recommended dose. Granular form applications are
usually the safest method around bees. Prior to spraying with insecticides, remove
flowering weeds, which may attract bees; if ground-cover plants are in bloom, mow
before spraying.
Stay away from bee hive areas. Notify beekeepers to move nearby bee colonies
prior to treatment, so that the hives can be relocated or covered. Place buffers around
important pollinator foraging, nesting, and overwintering areas [111].
Both Pyrethrin, and spinosad are commonly used pesticides in organic farming.
These broad-spectrum insecticides will kill pests and beneficial species indiscriminately. However, other approved organic products, such as horticultural oils and
insecticidal soaps, are safer to use if not applied where pollinators are present [112].
5.3.2 Timing of Application
Fungicides are recommended to be applied at the end of bloom. If this is not
possible, then application several days before honey bees are brought to the orchard
is recommended [113].
Try to avoid applying pesticide to blooming plants or on plants where bees are
active. Applying at night or at lower temperature is one way to reduce the chance of
bee exposure, since they typically are not active in those situations (though this does
not avoid other potential pollinators).
5.3.3 Managing Pesticide Drift
While applying pesticides, the chemicals can move or drift beyond the target and
cause harm to bees and other wildlife more than a mile away. Some contributing
factors are weather conditions, application method, equipment settings, and spray
formulation. To minimize wind-related drift, try to spray when wind speed is lowest,
often during early morning or evening. Avoid mid-day spraying especially during
low humidity and high temperatures; as the ground heats, the spray droplets evaporate into smaller particle size, which may remain aloft for a longer time and travel
1 Understanding, Conservation, and Protection of Precious Natural Resources: Bees
39
Besides habitat conservation and agricultural land-use practices, both farmers and
the general public can alter the type, amount, and timing of pesticide application to
help reduce or eliminate risk to bees. Ideally, pesticides are best avoided whenever
possible, but if they must be used, these strategies are recommended.
5.3.1 Pesticide Usage
Use the least toxic pesticides when possible and follow label instructions, starting
with the minimum manufacture recommended dose. Granular form applications are
usually the safest method around bees. Prior to spraying with insecticides, remove
flowering weeds, which may attract bees; if ground-cover plants are in bloom, mow
before spraying.
Stay away from bee hive areas. Notify beekeepers to move nearby bee colonies
prior to treatment, so that the hives can be relocated or covered. Place buffers around
important pollinator foraging, nesting, and overwintering areas [111].
Both Pyrethrin, and spinosad are commonly used pesticides in organic farming.
These broad-spectrum insecticides will kill pests and beneficial species indiscriminately. However, other approved organic products, such as horticultural oils and
insecticidal soaps, are safer to use if not applied where pollinators are present [112].
5.3.2 Timing of Application
Fungicides are recommended to be applied at the end of bloom. If this is not
possible, then application several days before honey bees are brought to the orchard
is recommended [113].
Try to avoid applying pesticide to blooming plants or on plants where bees are
active. Applying at night or at lower temperature is one way to reduce the chance of
bee exposure, since they typically are not active in those situations (though this does
not avoid other potential pollinators).
5.3.3 Managing Pesticide Drift
While applying pesticides, the chemicals can move or drift beyond the target and
cause harm to bees and other wildlife more than a mile away. Some contributing
factors are weather conditions, application method, equipment settings, and spray
formulation. To minimize wind-related drift, try to spray when wind speed is lowest,
often during early morning or evening. Avoid mid-day spraying especially during
low humidity and high temperatures; as the ground heats, the spray droplets evaporate into smaller particle size, which may remain aloft for a longer time and travel
1 Understanding, Conservation, and Protection of Precious Natural Resources: Bees
39