Spray Liaison Coordination

A wide variety of chemicals used to treat plants and plant crops (both in gardens and in commercial agriculture) have the potential to be harmful to bees.

There is much that can be done to improve the level of cooperation between beekeepers and the agricultural industry to lessen the potential threat to bees from agrochemicals and consequent danger of bees being poisoned.

Beekeepers, farmers and others involved will all find some useful further information on the HSE web site - Chemicals Regulation Directorate Pesticides

Information for Beekeepers

Much of the responsibility lies with individual beekeepers, to ensure that local farmers and growers that might use agricultural chemicals during the course of their work are aware of the nearby presence of beehives.

If your bees are placed on or near agricultural land or crops that are likely to be sprayed, ensure that you have made the person responsible for the crop aware that your bees are present, and that you need to be informed in advance of any spraying. Make sure that they know how to contact you, or are able to leave a message for you. If you receive notification of spraying, take appropriate measures. This notification may come via your loal association secretary.

Please make yourself aware of the contents of the relevant Codes of Practice, so that you are aware of your own responsibilities as well as those of the farmer or contractor.

If you suspect that your bees might have been poisoned by spraying, you should contact your Local Association Secretary. Please use the link on the right to take you to the Contacts pages where you will find up-to-date details for Local Associations.

Information for farmers, growers and contractors

Farmers, growers and their contractors can be asked to liaise with neighbouring beekeepers to alert them to when spraying is to take place. They can provide sufficient notice to allow beekeepers to take some precautionary measures. They can also make sure that they follow the relevant Codes of Practice, and use chemicals and application methods which minimise the risk to honeybees.

If you have been advised that there are bees on or close to crops which you will be spraying, make sure that you keep contact details for the beekeeper(s) close at hand. If bees have to be moved away from the spraying location, they cannot be moved unless sufficient notice is given. Please give the beekeepers warning of what, and when you are going to spray. Please advise beekeepers, preferably by telephone, and also preferably giving 24-48 hour' notice, at the very least the evening before. If you cannot locate contact details for the owners of hives that might be affected by spraying, please rty to contact local beekeepers through the local association nearest to the location of spraying. You will find contact details on the Local Associations page, which you can access from the Quick Links on this page or from the main menu. Please follow the relevant Codes of Practice.