Farmers and ranchers are concerned about the environment and the multitude of pieces it consists of. While many livestock owners create and employ large undertakings such as methane digesters, a massive project scope isn’t the sole path to support sustainability. Often, a simpler, more back-to-basics approach contributes just as well to a desired balance in the natural world.
The relationship between pollinators and livestock is a worthwhile starting point.
Where’s the fit?
“Pollinators, essentially bees, have a fit in the natural world as they are productive for the beekeepers, the environment and cattle producers,” says Sebe Brown, statewide field crop Extension entomologist at Louisiana State University.
Native to North America, orchard masons, sweat bees, leafcutters and bumblebees are often considered keystone species. Together with other natural insects such as flies and wasps, they perform their role in the ecosystem puzzle but at times fall short of necessary goals.
Honey bees can help. While not native to North America, records of their domestication date back farther than cattle and goats with bee colonies documented as long ago as ancient Egypt, Brown explained. From their longstanding history, they have proven exceptionally capable of pollination.
Row crops such as corn and canola are self-pollinated through their plant’s biology, thus bees aren’t required for their continued development, but ranchers and forage producers growing clovers and legumes to feed their livestock benefit from their services. These higher in protein, more nutrient-dense forages gain advantage from pollination, and honey bees can play a large role.
What’s the benefit?
“Honey bees provide practical and intangible benefits—money and honey. It’s where their fit is. They’re extremely vital to our food supply, pollinating everything from apples to almond trees to clovers. Many of these crops can’t rely on natural pollinators and need honey bee supplementation to increase their efficiency, plus help the bottom line of the grower and the beekeeper.”
[inline_image file=”e4239059a58afa5112c2b30456d15c1e.jpg” caption=”Extracting the frame from the hive, while a beekeeper smokes the bees to cover their alarm pheromone to keep them from attacking the beekeepers. LSU Ag Center.”]
According to Brown, they increase pollination and seed set for forages, which in turn fosters the natural pollinators that derive their sustenance from these plants. Beekeepers receive literal subsidies in honey, beeswax and other related products.
Connected benefits touch far-reaching segments of the ecosystem. Bees pollinate flowers, flowers produce seed, and the seed attracts rodents and insects. Animals eat the rodents, but the establishment of seeds also helps support upland game birds.
In general, Brown describes the relationship between cattle producers and beekeepers as critical to sustainability.
“We can realize an excellent working relationship between beekeepers and cattlemen because on the rancher side, they want to increase seed set. When growing crimson clover, Dutch or white clover, honey bees will forage on them because they’re nutrient dense, high in nectar and high in pollen.
[inline_image file=”f1890518c7b5ab254d96f6faafb5bc05.jpg” caption=”A cuckoo bee pollinating a flower. LSU Ag Center.”]
Cattlemen would rather not re-seed their clover every year, and with more efficient pollination, they don’t need to. On the flip side of the coin, these types of plants impart a good flavor and color profile to the honey. This creates a win-win for both cattle people and beekeepers.”
Keeping the colonies healthy
Brown warns that care needs to be taken to support the health of both the native pollinators and honey bees. Their populations tend to fluctuate dependent on external factors such as disease, lack of rural forage, urbanization and the presence of varroa mites, external parasitic mites that attack and feed on honey bees.
A common misconception is held that honey bees are endangered and declining in number, but he corrects this mistaken view. Many native bees such as the rusty patched bumblebee are critically threatened and on the endangered species list, but the honey bee is not. It is a bought and sold commodity insect.
[inline_image file=”165e24e3c3d65c7e26b35d0524ce5deb.jpg” caption=”A beekeeper smoking down bee hives to keep them from attacking. LSU Ag Center.”]
“We’ve got concrete jungles now as opposed to areas with flowering plants. Many districts are covered with parking lots and asphalt. That’s a natural contributor to losing our bee habitat. Well-manicured golf courses, while important in their own way, don’t contain many flowering plants and can be a contributing factor to colony losses.”
Insecticides also pressure insect and bee health and stability. Brown says typical entomologists use integrated pest management practices in field, row and horticulture crops as a needed and useful tool to control diverse pest spectrums. Used conscientiously, insecticides play an essential role in the environment, but if handled improperly, will cause harm.
[inline_image file=”9f314514416a1594aa675a0561756280.jpg” caption=”A bee pollinating a vitex flower. LSU Ag Center.”]
“When a hive isn’t strong, it’s not going to be very effective and efficient. It will use its resources just to stay alive. If we start with a strong hive, we’ll have better bees. And if the colony is healthy, just like if we’re healthy, everything is more productive. Insecticides can cause losses but with communication and timing coordination, we can keep them protected, while also having them remain a part of intensive agriculture.”
How to get started
Placing apiaries (bee colonies) near pasture and forage crops doesn’t have to be complicated, Brown stressed. Honey bees’ range is approximately one to two miles, so they are able to access forage from a distance. Boxes should be placed beyond a strong enough fence to keep livestock from damaging them. Tree lines or natural shelter are beneficial along with a water source.
“Typically, the closer the better, so they don’t have to expend as much energy going to forage. They can bring larger pollen and nectar loads back to the hive. Less energy is expended to transport materials.
“Along trees or fence lines, wherever is out of the way and works logistically is fine. They must also be accessible as beekeepers need to work their hives, collect honey, monitor the queens, and check for the varroa mites.”
Brown explained that in Louisiana, they have the pollinator cooperative conservation program to assist in uniting cattlemen with beekeepers for mutual benefit. Other states have similar approaches designed to bring the two entities together.
Some Extension personnel, or cattlemen’s and beekeeper associations work jointly. He’s even seen profit-sharing situations occur when clover crops are profitable enough to incentivize collaboration.
“I’ve seen all kinds of situations work between cattle people and bee people,” Brown said. “Groups working collectively for cash in the pocket. Money talks. Farming can be made more profitable with the cooperation of cattle folks and honey bees.”
[inline_image file=”878648ac22c0dcea197129dae9d8bda8.jpg” caption=”Inspecting a beehive frame for the queen bee to ensure she is not removed from the hive. LSU Ag Center.”]
He believes bees, both native and the imported honey bees, are an essential asset of sustainable agriculture and he doesn’t envision any negatives in their pairing with livestock, even around self-pollinating field crops. In his opinion, they aren’t detrimental to anything farmers grow.
“With more bees and plants in the environment, they will derive nectar and pollen from a greater amount of forage. It’s a win-win while increasing our biodiversity. For forage producers, it’s an excellent opportunity to increase yields. The more bees we have in the environment, the more efficient they become, the healthier things get and the better off we’ll be.”
