The Madera County Ag Commissioner’s office is gathering data to determine if the pistachio crop has been damaged due to weather and pollination earlier this year. They are hearing reports of low yields and lots of blanks in the current pistachio crop and would appreicate the filling out of this survey form.
The survey form can be downloaded here.
Sweet Harvest Foods, the largest producer of raw, unfiltered honey and parent company of Nate’s Honey and Nate’s Hives, today announced the launch of Nate’s Hives Research Grant Program, reinforcing its commitment to advance the long-term success and sustainability of honey bees and the honey industry through science, innovation and collaboration.
The program will provide up to $100,000 in annual funding for research projects that strengthen honey bee health, improve sustainable beekeeping practices, and drive innovation in pollination practices and across the honey supply chain. Proposals may be submitted by academic institutions, nonprofit organizations and industry researchers, with funding available for projects up to three years in duration.
“As the industry leader in honey and a top apiary, we believe scale brings both responsibility and opportunity, and the honey industry’s future depends on science and collaboration,” said Michael Carle, Chief Executive Officer of Sweet Harvest Foods. “Through the Nate’s Hives Research Grant Program, we’re investing in the kind of research that will strengthen honey bee health, advance sustainable beekeeping practices and support pollination, a more resilient food ecosystem and the honey industry. Innovation has always been central to how we operate and it’s more important now than ever to fuel continued progress.”
Proposals may address one or more of the following areas of focus: honey bee health, sustainable beekeeping practices, environmental impacts, supply chain innovation, consumer demand and nutritional impacts, or trade policy and production economics. Each submission will be evaluated by a volunteer review board composed of Sweet Harvest Foods employees and external experts from academia and the beekeeping industry.
“At Nate’s Hives, we believe science can and should shape the future of beekeeping,” said Matt Halbgewachs, president of Nate’s Hives. “This grant program puts that belief into action and empowers researchers to uncover solutions that help honey bees and beekeepers everywhere. By linking researched insights with on-the-ground experience, we accelerate progress for honey bees, beekeepers, farmers and consumers alike.”
Applications are due March 1, 2026, with awards announced on April 15, 2026. For full eligibility details, proposal requirements and submission instructions, visit nateshives.com/research-grant-program.
About Sweet Harvest Foods
We believe in making life a little sweeter. As the leading procurer of honey in the U.S., Sweet Harvest Foods provides the highest-quality ingredients for some of the most iconic brands and beloved products. That’s a serious responsibility, which is why we keep innovating and setting higher standards in quality, taste and reliability. Sweet Harvest Foods is bolstered by its ownership of Nate’s Honey, the number-one branded honey, and Nate’s Hives, a top U.S. apiary. Join us on our mission to lead the honey industry by innovating from the hive to beyond the kitchen. For more information, visit www.sweetharvestfoods.com.
San Diego, Calif., (March 21, 2018) – Honey bees are responsible for the annual pollination of at least $17 billion worth of US crops, but face severe health challenges. Nosema ceranaeis a fungus thatcauses a common and widespread infection that is associated with poor colony health and Colony Collapse Disorder. Currently, Nosema diseaseis primarily treated with a single antibiotic. Because of the potential for antibiotic resistance and the transfer of resistant genes in humans, it is desirable to find an alternative treatment, one that relies upon the natural honey bee immune system. Based upon data from bees reared in the lab, we found thatfeeding honey bee larvae heat-killed N. ceranaspores can activate honey bee immunity and substantially reduces infection levels when these “immunized” bees are exposed to Nosema as adult bees. The proposed research will test if this “immune-priming”, a vaccine-like treatment can also work (1) in naturally-reared honey bee larvae, (2)in beesimmunized as adults, and (3) in field tests of colonies. To test the effectiveness of our treatments, we will measureindividual bee infection level, the number of infected bees per treatment, bee immune gene activation, and effects on bee longevity.
OBJECTIVES: Honey bees are responsible for the annual pollination of at least $17 billion worth of US crops, but face severe health challenges. Nosema ceranaecauses a common and widespread infection that reduces honey bee health and is primarily treated with a single antibiotic. Activating insect immunity against fungal infectionsprovides a natural countermeasure that should be difficult for pathogens to evolve resistance against. This has been demonstrated with heat-killed bacteria, but it remains unclear if this strategy would work with a heat-killed fungal pathogen like Nosema cerana.In our preliminary data, we show that autoclaved N. ceranaespores fed to A. melliferalarvae reared in vitro (immune priming) and subsequently fed live Nosemaspores as adults have infection levels reduced by 85% upon adult death. The proposed research would test the efficacy of this immune priming treatmentin vivo and with field colonies. If successful, we will have developed a new treatment against N. ceranaeand created a potentallytransformative approach to treating honey bee fungal diseases. Specifically, we will determine if immune priming conveys protection against infection when administered in vivo to (1) larvae or (2) adults upon emergence. Based upon these results, we will test if (3) immune primingeither larvae or young adults in field colonies boosts colony immunity against Nosema infection. We will measure individual bee infection level (midgut spores/bee), number of infected bees per treatment, bee immune gene activation, and effects on bee longevity.Overall goal:We will test if immune priming activates honey bee immunity againstN. ceranaeand therefore decreases subsequent infection when bees are exposed toN. ceranae.Ourspecific objectivesare as follows. We will determine if immune priming conveys protection against infection when administeredin vivoto (1) larvae or (2) adults upon emergence. Based upon these results, we will test if (3) immune priming either larvae or young adults in field colonies boosts colony immunity againstNosemainfection. We will measure pathogen prevalence (proportion of infected bees per treatment), abundance (spore counts /bee), immune gene activation, and effects on longevity.
Washington, D. C., (June 20, 2017) – A new certification program enables agricultural producers to let consumers know they are farming in ways that benefit bees. Funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation partnered with Oregon Tilth to develop and launch the Bee Better Certified program.
“Bee Better Certified is working with conservation-minded farmers to meet a growing interest from consumers to know how their food choices impact bees,” said Xerces Executive Director Scott Hoffman Black. “Many species of bees have suffered declines over the years, but by creating habitat and reducing pesticide use, Bee Better is generating meaningful change on working farms, helping to preserve crop pollinators and the valuable services they provide to farmers.”
After piloting the program with 13 farmers over the past few months, Xerces and Oregon Tilth are now opening it to farmers nationwide. The program focuses on integrating flower-rich habitat on farms in order to provide food and nesting sites for native bees, honey bees and other pollinators. It also helps farmers reduce or eliminate use of pesticides known to cause harm to bees.
Oregon Tilth assesses and certifies farms based on the amount and quality of habitat created as well as the incorporation of pest management strategies aimed at protecting crop pollinators.
“When Xerces approached us as a possible partner, it seemed like a great fit,” said Oregon Tilth Certification Director Connie Karr. “We knew our missions were aligned, and we could bring our certification expertise alongside their technical expertise in invertebrates to develop this standard together. It’s important to make sure a new set of standards is credible, valuable and achievable. By working together, we could achieve all those things.”
The project received a $350,000 Conservation Innovation Grant in 2016 from USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) which Xerces matched to develop and test the first-of-its-kind program. The Conservation Innovation Grant program aims to drive public-private innovation to support next-generation conservation efforts.
On the grounds of the Vice President’s residence last week, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue declared June 19-25 National Pollinator Week to draw attention to the plight of pollinators whose numbers are in decline.
As part of USDA’s commitment, NRCS works with conservation partners like Xerces to help farmers plan and implement conservation practices that benefit bees and other pollinators. NRCS offers more than three dozen conservation activities that farmers can use to integrate bee habitat amid working lands and to use pesticides wisely. Several of the farmers who piloted Bee Better Certified have worked with NRCS to make conservation improvements on their land.
Sacramento, Calif., (February 28, 2017) – Another wet week, with temperatures staying steady. Widespread freezes were reported Thursday through Saturday across the State.
Rainfall followed a similar pattern Monday through Wednesday, with the heaviest rains falling in the northwestern mountains, and the northern and central Sierra foothills. Four to five inches of rain fell in these places, with two to three inches in the northern and central valley. Rainfall tapered off to the south, with up to one inch in the southern valley and along the coast down to the Los Angeles area. Additional light rains fell on most of the State for the rest of the week and into the weekend. Most areas outside of the far southern coast and deserts received an additional quarter inch to half inch of rain. Cold temperatures and an active weather pattern led to yet more snow in the mountains, with up to two feet falling in parts of the central and northern Sierras. The northern mountains received another foot of snow, with the southern Sierras receiving under six inches. Temperatures were cold enough for an overall increase of the snowpack in the central and northern mountains, while a slight decrease of the snowpack was seen in the southern Sierras.
Temperature highs were in the 20s to 50s in the mountains, 40s to 60s along the coast, 50s to 60s in the valley, and 50s to 70s in the desert. The temperature lows were in the 10s to 30s in the mountains, 20s to 30s in the valley, 20s to 40s in the desert, and 40s to 50s along the coast.
The planted grains and field crops continued to mature, reaping the benefit from all the recent rain, and a few sunny days. Growers waiting for excess water to dry up in the fields.
Pruning, discing, weed control, and pre-bloom spraying continued where drying orchard floor conditions permitted. Olive groves were pruned. Pruning, tying, berm sanitation, and brush shredding continued in the drier vineyards. The standing water in vineyards and orchards continued to cause concern for the health of the trees and vines. Herbicides were applied in some vineyards. Early varieties of nectarine and peach were blooming in Fresno County. Cherry bloom began in Tulare County. The Navel orange harvest resumed. Recent rains impacted the overall quality of the citrus. Zutano avocados harvest was ongoing. Tangelo harvest continued. Date trees were planted in Imperial County.
As field conditions permitted walnut and pistachio orchards were pruned. Saturated soils and high winds toppled some walnut and almond trees in the San Joaquin Valley. Almond bloom was progressing well across the State. Rain and wind caused some almond petal drop. As flooded orchards dried and conditions permitted, beehives were moved in to facilitate almond pollination.
Drying conditions allowed for fields to be prepared for cultivation in Madera, Fresno, and Tulare County. Ground was being prepped for planting tomatoes. Herbicide was being applied to onions. Strawberry fields continued to thrive. Carrots continued to be harvested.
Non-irrigated pasture and rangeland continued to improve due to the winter’s precipitation and warming temperatures. Range was reported to be in excellent to fair condition. Supplemental feeding of livestock was waning as range conditions improved. Bees were active in the blooming almond orchards. Sheep grazed retired pasture, harvested broccoli fields, and dormant alfalfa.
Davis, Calif., (January 30, 2017) – The UC Davis Honey and Pollination Center’s annual Feast, scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 11, will celebrate mead and honey, as usual, and something else: a new partnership to bring a pollinator-friendly kitchen garden to the Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science.
Amina Harris, director of the RMI’s Honey and Pollination Center, said the garden will be part of the Good Life Garden that sits amid the institute’s buildings in the south campus, and is being developed in cooperation with the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden.
“We are creating a team to look at plantings, irrigation concepts, educational signage and even the installation of a beehive,” Harris said.
The center’s mission: Helping UC Davis become the world’s leading authority on bee health, pollination and honey quality.
Kathleen Socolofsky, assistant vice chancellor and director of the Arboretum and Public Garden, said: “We are thrilled to be able to plan the next phase of the Good Life Garden with our partners at the Robert Mondavi Institute, including the Honey and Pollination Center and other academic partners in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.”
Ideas for the garden will be presented at The Feast: A Celebration of Mead and Honey, described by Harris as “a tasty way” to celebrate pollinators and the wonderful fruits and vegetables they help bring to the table.
The dinner, now in its fourth year, also serves as a fundraiser for the Honey and Pollination Center’s outreach and education programs.
Harris said Ann Evans, author of The Davis Farmers Market Cookbook (second edition), has created a feast menu that is redolent with seasonal flavors: hors d’oeuvres and Honey Stingers featuring ginger mead; a rich tomato aspic salad; and a main course of chicken with plumped dried figs and apricots, and roasted Musqué de Provence squash with couscous. Wines, honey lemonade and sparkling mead will paired with each course.
A cheese interlude will accompany a dessert mead flight with a perfect closure to a winter feast: mead-poached pears served with butter cookies and the mead flight.
The Feast, including music by the Jonny Gold Trio, will begin at 6 p.m. in the foyer of the RMI Sensory Building. Tickets: $150, available online. For more information, contact Harris by email.