f
Honeybees Increase
Strawberry Yields
Tim Eikner
Lancaster County
Horticulture Agent
A recent column in a horticul
tural publication reported on re
search which proved that honey
bees present in strawberry fields
during flowering resulted in
more and larger berries.
Many growers have believed
that this was the case, but there
had been little research informa
tion to document the benefits of
bees.
However, Dr. Joseph Kovach
conducted a study at Cornell
University that found honeybee
pollinated fields yielded 20 per
cent more strawberries (by
weight) than nonpollinated
fields.
This funding is significant for
several reasons. First, the only
cost involved to increase yields
was the expense of hive rental.
There were no additional fertil
izers or pesticides necessary.
Second, the resulting berries
were larger and sweeter. This
would definitely help sales of
your fruit.
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And third, the number of mis
shapen berries in the field was re
duced. This was a result of more
efficient pollination by the bees.
Strawberries are wind-, and
gravity-pollinated and bees or
other pollinators are not neces
sary to set a crop. However, by
having bees present to move pol
len between flowers, more
achenes (or seeds) are formed.
Developing seeds release hor
mones that cause development of
the flesh nearby, resulting in
larger and better-shaped berries.
Developing seeds also stimulate
the accumulation of sugars in the
fruit so the more seeds there are,
the sweeter the berry.
Honeybees find strawberry
flowers attractive so large num
bers of colonies are not necessary
to improve pollination. One
strong hive for every two acres of
berries should be sufficient to in
crease your yields.
I encourage you to look into
having honeybees present during
flowering of your strawberry
fields this year. This small invest
ment could yield large returns at
harvest.
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USDA Launches Online Manual
Of Permitted Fruits, Vegetables
WASHINGTON, D.C. The
USDA is establishing a new
manual on its Website that lists
all of the fruits and vegetables
from every country in the world
that may be imported into the
U.S.
The manual, which includes
fresh herbs and sprouts, can also
be used to determine what per
mits are required for importa
tion. Anything that is not in
cluded on the list is prohibited
from entering the U.S.
This manual will meet the
needs of importers from around
the world who want to expand
their markets to the U.S. but are
unsure of what fruits and vege
tables are permitted.
Dairy issue
June 21
Dairy issue is
scheduled to Mature
an interview with a
young couple new lo
dairying, a new milk
cooperative in the
central part of the
state, research into
building a better
milkshake, and lots of
news from the dairy
promotion frontlines.
Ttm issue Is June 2.
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The database will also benefit
USDA’s Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service, which
has agricultural inspectors at in
ternational ports of entry around
the country. APHIS’ inspectors
can use the online manual, which
contains pictorial identification
guides, to more quickly de
termine if cargo and other pro
duce brought to the U.S. by im
porters and passengers is allowed
entry or must be confiscated.
While the manual has been
available in hard copy, this is the
first time it has been made acces
sible online.
All of the fruits and vegetables
included in the manual are in
tended for human consumption,
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, May 19,2001-A37
not for propagation. Fruits and
vegetables not included on the
list are prohibited because of the
pest and disease risk associated
with the produce or because a
risk assessment has not been
done to determine if the com
modity can be safely imported.
To view the complete list, visit
www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/
manuals. The manual will be
regularly updated to reflect
changes and additions to the list.