Depending on the varietal of blueberry planted the minimum increase in yield is 13% & 12% heavier making more berries and decrease in smaller berries. 

Crop Yield Formula

Grower 10 tons + 13% = 1.3 tons extra yield x R80/kg = +R104,000 per ha

Beekeeper is paid R980 x 5 hives per 21 days up to 10 weeks = +/- R15k

1. Insect-mediated pollination services increased blueberry fruit set, berry weight and seed set (R² values: 64.8%, 75.9% and 75.2% respectively).

We often detected pollen limitation, indicated by an increase in fruit set, berry weight and seed set (R²: 10.1%, 18.2% and 21.5%, respectively), with additional hand pollination. Increasing visitation of honeybees and wild bees contributed to blueberry pollination by increasing fruit set (R²: 5.4% and 3.5%), berry weight (R²: 6.5% and 2.8%) and seed set (R²: 6.4% and 3.8%) respectively.

Bee contributions to fruit set and berry weight were variable across regions.

1. Source: First published: 11 October 2023 https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.14516

2) On average, precision-pollinated plots had 70% more bee visits to flowers and produced 13% more fruits that were 12% heavier and 12% firmer than those obtained through conventional practices.

These results showed that pollination efficiency could be improved if key management related to bee strength, distribution and health care are taken into account.

Due to these results, we encourage growers and beekeepers to include precision pollination practices to both increase the productivity of blueberry fields and the well-being of honey bees within agro-ecosystems.

[source: Cavigliasso, P., Negri, P., Viel, M. et al. Precision management of pollination services to blueberry crops. Sci Rep 11, 20453 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-00068-1]

Notes to Consider For Pollination Providers:

Growers may not receive efficient pollination services if hives are low quality (i.e., have low number of frames covered with bees, or bees with high levels of pests) and/or beehives are placed far from the field to pollinate²⁰.

Beekeepers, on the other hand, may lose many hives if pesticides are applied during flowering (i.e., colony loss by intoxication)²¹ and/or if flower resources within or surrounding the farm are not sufficient in terms of abundance or quality to sustain their well-being (i.e., colony loss by starvation)²².

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British Columbia Blueberry Council states:

• Blueberries require insect-mediated pollination (bees) to produce decent yields.

• The combined visits by both honeybees and wild bee species (particularly bumblebees) during blueberry bloom leads to better seed set, larger fruit, and higher yields. Adequate fruit size can make the difference between making fresh grade versus process grade.

• Blueberries that develop without bee pollination tend to be small and usually don’t reach marketable size.

• Research shows that without pollinators, highbush blueberry yields in B.C. decrease by 30 to 50% from typical levels. This decrease can be more substantial with some difficult-to-pollinate varieties.