THE FEDERAL Government's decision to ban live large earth bumblebee imports into Australia has led to mixed reactions from several groups within the farming community, with the Australian Hydroponic & Greenhouse Association questioning the verdict but the South Australian Apiarist Association "happy with the decision for several reasons".

Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett rejected the request to import the bees late last month, saying they posed a serious risk to the Australian environment, native bee populations and native bird species.

But AHGA president Graeme Smith said the decision would cost Australian greenhouse farmers at least $40 million annually.

D'Vineripe tomato grower Greg Prendergast, who runs eight hectares of greenhouses, said the Federal Government were "very ill informed" when it came to banning bumblebee imports.

"I spend $300,000 to $400,000 a year on pollinating plants manually," Mr Prendergast said.

The Two Wells horticulturist, who is also a consultant with GV Prendergast, said buying in bumblebees for his operation would cost about $200,000, but they had a 20 per cent better pollination of fruit, which created a better shaped and larger tomato, and they would also reduce insecticide use in a greenhouse by "probably" 90 per cent.

"I am very much disappointed with the decision, and many other people would be feeling the same," he said.

"They are the best method of pollinating tomatoes."

SA Apiarist Association president Ian Zadow, Tintinara, said he was happy with the decision for several reasons.

"For sure there could have been a potential for a disease risk to honey bees," he said.

Mr Zadow said the bumblebee was also "very effective" at spreading gorse, an introduced weed, and they also had a "nuisance" factor.

"I am told they sting even harder than an European honey bee," he said.

Mount Compass beekeeper Leigh Duffield said bumblebees imports could have affected apiarists and the environment.

Mr Duffield said he was conscious of the tomato industry's concerns in regards to pollination, but he felt that there was an opportunity for alternative solutions to be used, such as the blue banded bee that the University of Adelaide's Australian Research Council senior research associate Katja Hogendoorn, had been studying.

* Extract from a full report in Stock Journal, November 13 issue.