Pollination by bees in industrial crop production

Kuban State Agrarian University, Kalinina str.1, Krasnodar, Russia

^* Corresponding author: kubanagro@list.ru

Abstract

In recent decades, beekeepers have faced challenges from the massive use of pesticides, climate change and the emergence of new diseases. Taking into account the fact that, as a result of the mass use of chemical plant protection products, the number of wild pollinating insects has significantly decreased, bees are the most effective performers of the pollinating function. In the last twenty years, Russian farmers have come to understand the role of bees in the industrial agrobiocenosis. It is economically advantageous to orient bees to efficient pollination, which requires a high concentration of colonies in a small area. The importance of bees in sunflower production goes beyond mere pollination. Studies have shown that plants visited by bees have a higher seed set, resulting in higher yields. In addition, the pollination process improves seed uniformity and quality. Since industrial crop production implies the placement of one monoculture on large areas, then, naturally, a large number of bees should be delivered to the sunflower array at once by the beginning of flowering. Only mobile beekeeping can cope with this task. Mobile beekeeping is a dynamic and adaptable approach to beekeeping, offering beekeepers increased flexibility, improved honey production.