All gardeners love to see honey bees and native bees busily gathering nectar and pollen. But for many farmers, bees are a necessity -- one third of all food crops depend on bees for pollination! So "Colony Collapse Disorder" is a problem that concerns all of us.

Wine grapes do not depend on bees -- the vines are self-pollinating, with insignificant flowers that tend not to attract bees. But toward harvest, when grapes are becoming soft and sweet, in come the bees. At this point, however, most vineyard sprays (herbicide, fungicides) have stopped because weeds are no longer a problem and the sugary grapes have become resistant to mildew.

Still, grape growers are concerned about colony collapse and what it may be saying about our environment. At a recent Sustainability Field Day at Shone Farm, Dr. Eric Mussen, foremost University of California bee expert, spoke to growers about how to protect bees. His message:

• Do not spray when bees are foraging (even non-toxic oil sprays may "temporarily inactivate" bees). Spray at night (a common practice anyway in the Gap since that is when our wind dies down).
• Check with your PCA (pest control advisor) to help choose products with low toxicity ratings, or that carry precautionary statements re bees.  NOTE: products intended for home use may not carry these warnings, so gardeners must do their homework (i.e., check the UC website).
• Beware tank mixes: surfactants and adjuvants added to spray materials become more toxic to bees.
• Communicate with Beekeepers in your area. Find out when hives are being moved in and out. Discuss products you are using in the vineyard and when sprays will go on.
• Keep tuned to new research/info. Herbicides are not thought to harm bees, but little is known about the effects of pesticides -- especially delayed effects, chronic exposure, impact on brood, etc.