Native bees in cropping systems

Katja Hogendoorn, from the University of Adelaide, discusses native bees in broad acre cropping systems.

There are several native bee species that will pollinate crops. Yield increases can be up to 30% in some broad acre grain legume and 10% in canola crops if pollination is effective. No till farming systems provide an ideal environment for native bees to nest and thrive in.

They need flowers to sustain them after the crop has finished flowering. Insecticide use needs to be managed carefully to impacts on native bee populations. This work is part of a project supported by the Northern Yorke Natural Resources Management Board.