What' s the buzz around pollination with Australian native bees?
About this episode
This episode explores the importance of pollination and features discussions with experts on native bees and the impact of the varroa mite on agriculture.
Depending on the time of day you're reading this, chances are you have a cup of tea, coffee or glass of wine in hand. And so you are already relying on pollination, and that's what this episode's all about because without healthy pollinators, so many of the foods and beverages we love simply wouldn't exist. In the latest episode of The Big Shift for Small Farms Podcast , we explore how pollination underpins our food system and why its future matters to us all. We visit Bill Shields’ apple orchard in Bilpin to hear about a mysterious event that has left him with virtually no apples on his trees this season. We'll sit down with Native Bee expert Dr. Tim Heard, who spent his career uncovering the hidden world of Australia's native bee pollinators. And in the wake of the varroa mite, we also hear from someone who's been on the ground with farmers and beekeepers, learning from their experiences supporting their recovery, and helping chart a path forward for resilient pollination into the future. Featured in this episodes: Bill Shields - Apple farmer, Shields Orchard Bilpin (shieldsorchard.com) Dr. Tim Heard - Australian native stingless bee expert ( sugarbag.net ) Emily Noordyke…
People in this episode
Host: NSW Local Land Services
Guests: Bill Shields, Dr. Tim Heard, Emily Noordyke
Topics covered
- pollination
- native bees
- food system
- agriculture
- resilience
- varroa mite
Keywords
- pollination
- native bees
- agriculture
- varroa mite
- food system
- resilience
- apple orchard
- Australia
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Grow Love Project, Australian Government, Natural Heritage Trust, National Varroa Mite Management Program
Products: varroa mite
Places: Bilpin
More episodes of Big Shift For Small Farms - Australian Agriculture and Regenerative Farming
- Pick Your Own: Profit, Pressure & People on Small Farms
- Grass Farming for Horses: Regenerative Pastures, Movement and Health
- Ecological Weed Management - Regenerative practices
- Changing from Traditional to Regenerative Farming
- Natural Capital Insights for Regenerative Land Management Practices
- Soils and Pasture Management of the NSW South Coast
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Big Shift For Small Farms - Australian Agriculture and Regenerative Farming podcast page.