Doomed without bees
ON any farm, there list of jobs to do.
Most farmers end up doing the majority themselves, though there are some exceptions such as shearing or other contract operations that require specialised equipment.
One job around the farm that we often overlook or even forget, is conducted by tens of thousands of workers.
They go about their job with no complaints, no breaks and no pay, however without them not only our farms but our food supply chain would cease to exist.
I am of course talking about the integral role that bees play in the food production system.
They may be small, but they are the critical element that allows us to produce food.
As most would know bees are well recognised for their ability to produce honey, and in Tasmania there is a strong industry based around this product.
The honey sector relies, in the most part, on the Leatherwood nectar flow that emanates from our forests. In order for this valuable industry to continue and remain sustainable, access to these areas for Tasmania’s beekeepers is vital.
The other element of the is a long sector is the pollination services that are provided to a wide range of agricultural products — everything from cherries to sunflowers.
There are some crops that are in large part pollinated by other insects or the wind, but on balance, bees provide the largest share of the pollination duties. Without them we would all be on a very limited diet.
What is not well understood is how fragile our system is. For example, bees are threatened with a range of exotic diseases and pests that are not currently in Australia or Tasmania.
Any number of these would have catastrophic impacts on our bee population.
There are an estimated half a million man-made beehives in Australia, and one disease incursion alone could destroy the bulk of the native bee population and seriously impact the honey bee population as well.
In such a situation, we would need to increase our beehives to 750,000 just to maintain our present level of agricultural production.
This prospect alone is one of the reasons that the TFGA takes biosecurity so seriously and why we demand that the highest possible standards are maintained in Tasmania.
Now that we have some understanding of the importance of bees in agriculture we need take that understanding further. The current government often talks about increasing agricultural production to $10 billion by 2050 and we continue to seek a genuine implementation plan to achieve that.
One of the flaws in the current strategy is that it overlooks the important role that bees will play in this expansion. It is imperative that, as these plans are implemented, the bee industry is consulted and that the importance of bees in achieving these goals is recognised.
Looking forward to seeing you all at Agfest next week. Come and visit us, and our site sharers and corporate partners, at site 605, Sixth Avenue. ENTRIES are open for Royal Hobart Fine Food Awards, one of the biggest annual food award programs in Australia.
Almost 1600 entries came from every state and the ACT last year. More than 500 of these entries came from cities and towns across Tasmania.
Entries close on June 24 and judging starts at the Hobart Showground between July 27 and July 30.
An initiative of the Royal Agricultural Society of Tasmania, the awards are more than 20 years old.
They promote excellence in food making and are judged by a panel of national experts.
RAST organising committee chairwoman Annette Emmett replaces Robert Tanner, who has retired after distinguished service to the Food Awards and the Royal Hobart International Wine Show.
Almost 500 classes of foods will be judged in sections ranging from sausage rolls and cordials, to coffee, seafood and herbs and spices.