Phil McPherson guest speaker.

Posted

on Nov 10, 2015

Phil McPherson.

Phil McPherson was guest speaker at the Rotary Club meeting on Monday 9th November.

In mid 1950's father and his brothers started beekeeping as a hobby with honey sold to supplement farm income.

Went into beekeeping full-time and at peak had 12,000 hives and became main income earner.

2,000 registered beekeepers in the state, under 100 hives classified as a hobby, over 300 classified as commercial.

Now run 500 hives. In mid 90's production dried off due to the drought for 9 to 10 years

Bees susceptible to disease, in 1970's, just shifted hive, now manage carefully, looking out for disease.

Paterson Curse has always been important to bees to pollinate, as it is being eradicated making it harder for beekeepers.

Bees now being brought in by horticulturists to pollinate fruit and almond trees, which is a win win for beekeepers and horticulturist as quality of fruit much better.

Income now 50/50 from honey and pollination.

Queen bees now artificially inseminated.