Bees making the trek east to almond orchards
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (364747)
Rockingham, Australia
August 1, 2025 9:35pm CST
I wrote about a convoy of road trains taking hay across the Nullarbor Plain from Western Australia to South Australia where farmers are battling one of the worst droughts in history.
The latest news is that 600 beehives will also be making the trek to try to save the South Australian almond growers from ruin. Because of the drought, almond pollination is well belove normal levels. Often, bees are brought in from the east but bee-keepers there are fighting outbreaks of varroa mite, so there are strict quarantine measures in place.
I have never thought about low bee numbers impacting on pollination levels in orchards. The photo is mine of bees drinking at the birdbath during one summer’s day.
17 people like this
15 responses
@luisadannointed (9456)
• Philippines
2 Aug
Never heard about it, maybe because i am from a different countries. But here, we have beehives and i think its all going good.
2 people like this
@luisadannointed (9456)
• Philippines
5 Aug
@JudyEv I think we don't and we have lots of honey stores in the provinces.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (160279)
• United States
2 Aug
Do you ever wonder if bees mind when the beekeepers take some of their honey? I wonder if the Queen bees get mad about it?
3 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23828)
• United Kingdom
2 Aug
We like bees they keep things alive. There is a worrying trend that bee numbers are declining. When I visited Sydney in 2023 my neice met me they have 4 hives. She gave me a huge jar of honey to bring home. It is the best honey we have ever had. The taste & consistency is amazing & not like the nasty honey you can buy in the supermarkets here. I hope she gives me another jar next year when I am in Sydney again.
2 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23828)
• United Kingdom
4 Aug
@JudyEv They live in the suburbs of Sydney.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (125988)
• Gainesville, Florida
2 Aug
So many people are afraid of bees without realizing how important and beneficial they are to us, and how their population numbers are on the decline worldwide. Without bees, pollination would be very difficult, if not impossible. I hope the efforts to transport the bees to the drought areas helps the situation.
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (166138)
• United States
3 Aug
I have quite a variety of bees here, thanks to all the wild stuff that grows. We need our pollinators. I have had quite a few black swallowtails here today and also got to watch a hummingbird from the window during lunch. Almonds are supposed to be a healthy addition to our diet. I guess I never thought of them coming from Australia. I know we have a lot of orchards in California.
2 people like this
@allknowing (154199)
• India
3 Aug
Nature seems to not help mankind the world over.
2 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (123996)
• Marion, Ohio
2 Aug
Bees are often sent back and forth here.
2 people like this
@vilma143 (2915)
• Dipolog, Philippines
3 Aug
I have a lot of bees in the farm but they don't harm us, I only keep going far away 'cause I'm afraid they hurts me. But actually bees here is not harmful. They have home here at the farm and they are safe from people who want to touch them. They give us honey if I wanted to be. Bees are so dangerous too is you hurt them. So be careful to near them, some bees is harmful too if they are the wild bees one.
