Randy wrote: "Take the almond orchards for instance.  At 2 colonies/acre, a square mile is stocked with 1280 hives for about 3-4 weeks each spring.  If the weather
is good, those colonies will thrive and gain substantial weight.  But for the other 11 months of the year, colonies will typically starve if left there. "

The photos I've seen of almonds look as if they're growing in a desert with no other vegetation in sight!  I gather that they need irrigation and that there's now a water shortage in the area.  Cause and effect?  If the farmers undersowed the plantations with a variety of other vegetation that would feed bees throughout the year, not only would they save a fortune they spend on bringing in thousands of colonies to pollinate the almonds and share diseases but, over time, the vegetation would build up the soil with the result that it would  retain water better and reduce the need for irrigation.  If they're worried that it would be difficult to find dropped almonds among the weeds/vegetables/soft fruit, perhaps they could slin nets under the trees for a couple of weeks to catch them.

Chris

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