20 May 2022

How farmers can help bees on World Bee Day

It's #WorldBeeDay. Bees need food all year round, requiring a diversity of flowering plants in the landscape. Farmers can help bees by allowing space for wildflowers to grow and flower within hedgerows and field margins, around farmyards, along farm roadways and in field corners. Learn more here

Protecting bees on Irish farms

In this video, Aoife Leader, Walsh Scholar explains the importance of bees to the environment and biodiversity on Irish farms. Aoife identifies the simple measures farmers can take to help protect bees on their farm.

Why are bees important?

Pollination of food crops(Oilseed Rape, Peas, Beans, Apples, Soft Fruits)
Pollination of wild flowers and trees
Production of honey
Bees can be used to show a green image for Irish food

Why bee numbers are declining?

Reducion in wildflowers. Pollen provides protein for bees while nectar provides carbohydrates
Less nesting sites for bees
Lack of continuity of flowering plants: Bees require food all year round, requiring a diversity of flowering plants in the landscape

How can farmers help bees?

Allow space for diversity of wildflowers to grow

Along farm roadways, around farmyards, around field margins, in the corners of fields

Field Margins

Fence off from livestock
Cut or graze after flowering
Do not fertilise
Do not spray

Non farmed areas - around the farmyard, in field corners, along farm roadways

Allow flowering plants to flower
Do not spray
Do not cut until after flowering

Spraying insecticides in tillage crops

Spray early morning and late evening when honey bees are less active
Notify local beekeepers

Hedgerows

Irish hedgerows are full of flora and fauna if well managed. They are of value to pollinators only if flowers are present. A variety of hedgerow types is desirable on every farm.

Aim for a diversity of flowering plants - allow mature trees, new saplings and climbers grow and flower
Allow wildflowers to grow at the base
When cutting the hedge, side trim to a triangular shape with a wide base
Leave the peak on the hedge as high as possible
Allow individual thorn trees mature at irregular intervals

How farmers can help bees?

With hedges in full bloom for #WorldBeeDay, Teagasc Glanbia Future Farmer, Matthew Mullen explains the practices in place on his farm to ensure his hedges benefit bees and other native wildlife while also supporting ecosystem services

Bee boxes

Some solitary bees are cavity nesters and nest in hollowed twigs or holes in wood or masonry.

Making a Bee Box

Wood - not treated with insecticide / preservative
Selection of hole sizes - between 3/8 and ¼ inch
Clean smooth holes
Selection of holes - Include hollow stems e.g. bamboo
Holes must not interconnect - dead-end required
Pack with subsoil - substitute clay bank

When placing the bee box, it is important to have the box near flowering plants, at least 40 cm off the ground, in a sheltered and sunny spot facing south to south-west and fixed firmly, as bees will be navigating home to the bee box.

Teagasc supports the All Ireland Pollinator Plan, which can be viewed here