ABC Rural By Kellie Hollingworth and Hugh Hogan
Beekeepers are going to great lengths to ensure that the almond pollination season in north-west Victoria is a blooming success this year.
More than 277,000 hives are being transported to the region from across Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.
It's the largest movement of livestock in Australia.
But Tumut beekeeper John Casey needed help from above to rescue 1,200 hives that were stuck north of Condobolin because the road was too wet to access them.
In a rare move, the hives were moved by helicopter at a cost of $1,600 per hour, before being loaded onto trucks and transported to Boundary Bend.
"I've never seen it done," he said.
"It would be cheaper than doing a diff or gearbox on a truck. I think anyway.
Tumut beekeeper John Casey needed a helicopter to rescue 1,200 hives that were stuck on wet ground at Trundle.
"We're going to keep getting rain. It's supposed to rain more next month, but we need to get them out for the almond pollination," he said.
Bees go to work
Merbein almond grower Neale Bennett said the hives would be based at his property for six weeks before they were loaded back onto trucks for the trip home.
"We need the bees. Almonds aren't wind-pollinated like some other crops. We need the bees to carry that pollen from flower to flower," he said.
"It looks really good. It's a good time of the year because it's the start of our season. We hope for reasonable sunny weather and with that an even bloom."
Sourcing enough beehives is one challenge but navigating COVID-19 restrictions adds another level of complexity for people like Trevor Monson.
He coordinates almond pollination for a number of the farms between Tooleybuc and Hattah.
COVID-19 challenges
"Beekeepers have been really good with the paperwork," he said.
Mr Monson said this year's COVID-19 restrictions had been even more challenging to navigate than last year.
"We ask the beekeepers to get tested before they load their bees.
"We're only 5 kilometres from the border. They come in they unload and they're back out again," Mr Monson said.
The almond orchards in north-west Victoria are expected to be in full bloom within days.
More than 270,000 bee hives are making their way to Victoria to help with almond pollination.
COMING CLOSER TO SPRING, HEY?