Cotton growers are acutely aware of the risks associated with off-target movement of pesticides. Cotton crops are at risk of damage from herbicide spray drift every season, often with significant impacts on production and profitability. It’s just as important to recognise the impact our activities can have on neighbours, particularly apiarists with bee hives located near cotton crops.

A significant flowering event of River Red Gum occurs from November until the end of January throughout the greater Murray–Darling Basin, including but not limited to the Murrumbidgee, Lachlan and Macquarie Rivers and their tributaries. This means commercial bee hives are often placed near river country where cotton is also grown during the warmer months.

Cotton Australia encourages growers and consultants to take a proactive approach to help avoid any unintended impacts on local bee hives. Careful planning and awareness play an important role in supporting responsible pesticide use and protecting nearby hives.

Some practical steps growers can take are:

1. Create a spray plan for the season that includes risk mitigation for pollinators.
2. Register with BeeConnected and map crops on SataCrop.
3. If beehives are in the vicinity of crops, notify apiarists at least 48 hours before spraying.
4. Follow label directions for bee protection and only spray when wind speed and direction meet the specified conditions.

Insecticides used for mirid control represent the greatest potential risk to bees. Before undertaking mirid control, growers should confirm the location of nearby hives and, where possible, communicate directly with beekeepers. BeeConnected and SataCrop make it easy to identify and connect with apiarists.

Beekeepers often travel large distances to service or move their hives, so providing at least 48 hours’ notice helps them plan ahead and reduces disruption for both parties. Building this lead time into spray plans ensures grower operations can continue smoothly.

If you experience any difficulties accessing or using BeeConnected or SataCrop, your local Cotton Australia Regional Manager can assist. Cotton Australia also encourages you to remind consultants in your networks about the importance of these tools. Your engagement is essential to protecting both our cotton crops, products we rely upon for crop management and the vital role beekeeping plays in our ecosystem.