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Pollination has become a hot topic recently. This is especially true with the coming of the parasitic mite Varroa jacobsoni. This organism is responsible for great loss of feral colonies of European honey bees all across the U.S. and other infested areas of the world. Because of this loss, many home gardeners and growers who relied on these cosmpolitan pollinators have seen their numbers decrease alarmingly. This has led to a numerous press reports.

The situation though grim for growers, may be a boon to beekeepers. In a sense commercial pollinating activities using honey are now getting respect. One reason is that this justifies in both beekeeper and grower the idea of charging realistic prices for pollination contracts.

This also has a downside for beekeepers, however. Those interested in commerical pollination should also be realistic in terms of what honey bees are capable of doing as commercial pollinators. These introduced insects do not always do an adequate job, particularly with native plants. Other insects, especially what have been come to be called "pollen bees," also have a place in the commercial pollination picture. In the best sense of specialization, therefore, beekeepers may best help themselves in becoming pollination consultants rather than simply a source of honey bee colonies.

Based on writings in this arena, the author proposed and was granted a faculty development leave to look at pollination and beekeeping practices in France, February through July, 1997. General references:

International pollination effort on sustainable use of pollinators, July 2000.

Hand pollination of apples in China, June 2000.

Need for pollination contracts, April 2000.

Update on pollination value of honey bees, April 2000.

Pollination pamphlet available from AAPA, November 1999.

1999 Northwest Pollination survey results, October 1999.

Pollination: forgotten agricultural input, November 1998.

Using pollen bees and wasps for pollination, October 1998.

Western pollination survey, June 1998.

Seedless watermelon and pollination, May 1998.

More on transgenic plants and pollination, February 1998.

More on transgenic plants and pollination, January 1998.

Florida extension entomologist on sabbatical in France, February through July 1997.

Extension Apiculturist awarded sabbatical to study pollination and other beekeeping practices in France, December 1996. For a listing of activities conducted during this study see the index of letters written while in Aix-en-Provence, France

Transgenic Plants: A Pyrrhic Victory?, July 1997.

Informative bibliography on bee attractants in pollination, June 1997

Effects of transgenic crops on pollinating bees in France, May 1997.

More discussion on the Forgotten Pollinators Campaign in Arizona, June 1996.

Discussion of shortage of bees for pollination; the Australian situation as parallel and the Forgotten Pollinators Campaign in Arizona, March 1996.

A discussion of French pollination practices, emphasizing the GRAPP concept, October 1995. This led to the author's sabbatical carried out the first half of 1997.

A discussion of the Florida Agricultural Conference and Trade Show (FACTS) and vine crop pollination, November 1995.

A discussion of how beekeepers can widen their pollination perspective. Gives pollination resources and has a discussion of chemical attractants to increase pollination efficiency, July 1995.

Discussion of pollination with extensive quotes from David Green, commercial pollinator in South Carolina, March 1995.

Vine Crop Pollination, 1995.

Studies on chemical attractants to increase pollination efficiency, June 1994.

Information on non Apis or pollen bees as important vectors in pollination, April 1994.

It becomes clearer there are fewer honey bees for pollination; implications are discussed, January 1994.

Bumble bee newsletter being printed, December 1993.

Beekeepers finding commercial pollination to be a growth industry, November 1993.

Hints of fewer honey bees; reasons discussed--"teachable moment" is at hand? March 1993

Estimating the pollination value of honey bees; Journal of Economic Entomology, November 1992.

The reason why honey bees are not good pollinators in all situations explored, Plant Systematics and Evolution, June 1992

Comments on blueberry pollination and honey bees. Discussion of bee attractants, February 1991.

Blueberry pollination and honey bees in Florida, January 1991.

Comments on Florida seedless watermelons; why they need pollination, November 1990.

Short discussion of "enpollination" at the annual American Bee Research Conference, October 1990.

Value of honey bees' pollination activities; American Journal of Agricultural Economics, June 1987.

Discussion of the citrus-honey bee connection; a symbiosis, April 1986.

Discussion of vegetable and melon pollination in Florida, June 1985.

Value of honey bees' pollination activities; Bulletin of Entomological Society of America, February 1984.

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© 1997, M.T. Sanford, "All Rights Reserved"