Reducing pesticide risk to bees during fruit crop bloom

Bees are returning for pollination of fruit crops. Growers can protect pollinators by minimizing pesticide exposure and risk around bloom. Honey bee and bumble bee colonies are being delivered to farms, and wild bees are becoming active during the warm spring weather. These and other flower-visiting pollinators should be protected by minimizing pesticide exposure and risk, so they can continue to provide pollination and contribute to high quality and abundant yields. Delaying spraying until bloom is over is the best way to prevent risk, but if there are economic levels of insect pests or conditions for pathogen infection growers may need to spray to protect the crop.