>With the high value of pollinating units at present, there is no indication that the number will fall below 2.5 million hives. If it were to rise, on the other hand, the price offered to beekeepers for pollination would fall, and we would start back down. Obviously, these numbers are market driven. We have two different, but sometimes related, issues here--the decline in wild pollinators, and the market forces that match the supply of managed pollinators to demand. Many confuse the two. There are large beekeepers at this moment trying to get a feel for next year's market in order to determine the number of hives that they want to produce between now and next February for almonds. This decision will be solely based upon profitability, which is directly dependent upon the offered rental rate. -- Randy Oliver Grass Valley, CA www.ScientificBeekeeping.com *********************************************** The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html