SOUTHERN NSW's almond orchards are abuzz in readiness for spring - the great bee migration has begun.
More than 100,000 commercial bee hives have recently settled among almond crops in southern NSW and northern Victoria to assist the growers produce what's been forecast as a bumper crop.
Beehives are dotted among the groves in Mandole Orchard.
Almond producers depend on the bees' pollination services, which brings their trees' nut set to between 90 and 100 per cent.
Griffith grower and Almond Board of Australia Riverina grower representative Denis Dinicola, Mandole Orchard, Lake Wyangan via Griffith, said the season could not have been better.
"It's been a perfect winter for almonds, because it's been nice and cold," said Mr Dinicola (pictured with his son Dean).
There has been an even bloom across all the trees at the Dinicola's orchard, where there are about 60,000 trees.
Bees will remain in the almond crops for just a few weeks before moving off to other crops such as canola.
The almonds harvest is set for the first week in February.
Rebecca Sharpe
Journalist for The Land at Dubbo.
Journalist for The Land at Dubbo.
