By JONATHON HOWARD
MEMBERS of the Warwick Beekeepers’ Association have welcomed a new online tool set to revolutionise they way they find sources of pollen for their bees.
The new tool, known as BeeBox, uses NASA satellite images to help beekeepers predict where and when eucalypt trees will flower.
Warwick Beekeepers Association president Ray Clarke said the industry was under an increasing amount of operating cost pressures, and that any innovation to improve honey yields was welcome.
“Honey prices have been driven dramatically down recently due to foreign imported honey,” he said.
“Beekeepers are also struggling with increasing fuel costs.”
Mr Clarke said it was important that customers purchased local honey.
“There’s been a lot of competition from foreign products coming into Australia and I think it’s important to buy locally, buy Australian honey.”
BeeBox, which has been developed with funding from the Rural Industries R&D Corporation, can be accessed for free from home or a mobile device.
It uses imagery direct from NASA satellites to provide the most up-to-date and accurate information about eucalypt flowering cycles.
A user manual that provides a step-by-step guide to using BeeBox is available and can be accessed via the RIRDC website at www.rirdc.gov.au. BeeBox can be accessed at www.sideroxylon.com.au/beebox/.
