Dr. Elina L Niño’s research interests are broad and range from understanding reproductive processes involved in queen bee mating to developing and evaluating new control methods to combat Varroa mites. More recent research efforts have focused on understanding benefits of supplemental forage crops within agricultural systems. In her extension role, Niño is overseeing the recently UC ANR funded Master Beekeeper Program at UC Davis. Her program offers many beekeeping courses and upcoming efforts will focus on the development of the Pollinator Education Program for kids and youth.
Listen in to learn how growers can improve their pollinator effectiveness, the benefits of certain overwintering solutions, and the key to great queens.
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“I know there’s a lot of talk about letting natural selection do it’s thing, but we have to think about what we’re doing. When we put the bee colony into a hive, it’s no longer considered to be, in my mind, natural. So I think they definitely need some help.” – Dr. Elina L Niño
Show Notes:
- Why almond growers were particularly nervous about this years pollination
- The different overwintering options and how different farmers and beekeepers have adapted
- How growers are getting forage into their orchards
- Why growers should consider adding mustard to their orchard and let it go to seed
- What makes Northern California such a great place to make a queen
- Why these high quality queens can perform poorly
- How beekeepers, growers, and regulators came together to protect bees, and what they created to do it
- The Häagen-Dazs Honey Bee Haven at UC Davis, and why it was created
“There’s no doubt in my mind that there is a way to do breeding in a proper way, without putting the agriculture at risk.” – Dr. Elina L Niño
Links Mentioned:
- Learn more about the E L Niño Bee Lab at UC Davis
- Find out more about the Project ApisM Seeds for Bees Program
- Honey Bee Best Management Practices for California Almonds
- Check out this year’s International Pollinator Conference at UC Davis, 17-20 July
- Elina’s favorite pollinator resources:
- Check out this previous episode of the PolliNation podcast, 87 Steve Peterson – How To Make Mason Bees Thrive?
- Häagen-Dazs Honey Bee Haven – UC Davis