Columbus County Farmers Abuzz with Bees

May 22, 1998 

Whiteville, NC: "Without pollination, there are no blueberries. It's as simple as that," says Kenneth Gore, a Columbus County farmer who has begun keeping bees as part of his blueberry operation.

Until just a few years ago, farmers in this southeastern North Carolina county felt that there was a sufficient population of bees to pollinate their fruit crops. An influx of tracheal and varroa mites changed that, and now farmers are becoming part-time beekeepers.

"Before we had problems with mites, we could rent hives if we needed a little extra pollination," said Gore. "Now, since we can't rely on nature to supply the bees for pollination, it only makes sense to raise them on our own."

Many fruits cannot fill out completely and develop full flavor, unless they are well pollinated. Pollination occurs when bees spread the pollen sticking to them as they forage from flower to flower for nourishment.

Seeing that more farmers were contracting with bee renters from outside the county and noticing the hassle that this created, Larry Wright, a Columbus County agriculture technician with the North Carolina A&T State University Cooperative Extension Program, began to encourage growers in his county to consider keeping bees.

"There was a substantial amount of money going out of the county to contract for hives," said Wright. "And it wasn't always possible for farmers to get the bees at the times they needed pollination. Considering all of this made beekeeping a logical approach."

A logical approach, yes, but many farmers are not completely comfortable with the prospect of handling bees. Wright acknowledges this apprehension and responds with education.

Through newsletters, monthly meetings and field days coordinated by the Columbus County Extension Center, area farmers are able to learn about bees and beekeeping skills. According to Wright, education is crucial not only in helping farmers become comfortable working with bees, but also in helping farmers become successful with their beekeeping operation.

"Beekeeping is not something that you can just pick up and do," said Wright. "Because bees are so sensitive to their environment, beekeepers must know how to create and maintain an environment conducive to bees, and how to detect signs of trouble in the hive."

To help farmers comply with the rigorous maintenance schedule required of beekeepers during the growing season, from March to September, Wright distributes a calendar which details what beekeepers should be doing during each period to ensure the success of their hives.

Gore relies on this information and a knowledge base that dates back to his childhood years on his farm 22 miles south of Whiteville.

"I grew up with bees and have always had an interest in bees," said Gore, who uses 34 hives to pollinate his 12 acres of blueberries. Until four years ago, it had been years since Gore had worked with bees. Only when nature wasn't providing enough bees to pollinate his blueberries did Gore add beekeeping to his blueberry and tobacco growing operation.

Currently, Gore owns 22 of the 34 hives, and rents 12 of them. Among his plans for next year is owning all of the hives used to pollinate his blueberries.

"It sometimes takes two or three years to get enough bees to establish productive hives," said Gore. To get more bees, Wright, Gore and other area beekeepers capture them in the wild and, occasionally, from local residences, using baited hives and various other bee-extraction processes.

High numbers of bees are important to pollination because worker bees ­ the bees that do the pollination ­ are short-lived creatures, with an average lifespan of six to eight weeks. In the peak summer months, an average hive will contain between 40,000 and 60,000 bees, due to the capacity of queen bees to lay between 2,000 and 3,000 eggs per day.

Pollination is the main reason Gore returned to beekeeping, but he also enjoys beekeeping as a hobby, considering bees and their lifestyles fascinating.

"To work with bees, you have to love them and respect them," says Gore. "They are fascinating creatures like no other."

- 30 -

For more information, please contact Larry Wright, Columbus County Cooperative Extension Center, (910) 640-6605.