Remember, it is not that the supply of hives for almond pollination has
dropped off, it is rather that the number of hives has not grown at the same
rate as the number of "in-production" acres of almond trees.  ( The water
consumption is another facet of my general thesis: "Almonds did for
beekeeping what cocaine did for Miami." )

The first few paragraphs tell the essential facts in this paywalled article.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/28/us/water-source-for-almonds-in-california-
may-run-dry.html

"SACRAMENTO -  California's almond orchards have been thriving over the past
decade and now provide an $11 billion annual boost to the state economy.
Covering 860,000 acres, they account for 80 percent of world production. But
the growth coincides with another record development here - drought - and
the extensive water needs of nut trees are posing a sharp challenge to state
water policy.

Farmers in the area where almond production has been most consistent have
relied on water from a federally controlled project that draws its supply
largely from the Sacramento River. But that source is less reliable because
of legal requirements that in a time of scarcity, waterways that nurture
California salmon must also get available water flows.

Growers, some very wealthy, tried to get Congress to change those rules but
failed. Also, new state groundwater legislation may eventually constrain
farmers' well drilling.

Almonds "have totally changed the game of water in California," said Antonio
Rossmann, a Berkeley lawyer specializing in water issues. "It's hardened
demand in the Central Valley. Farmers are planting almonds because, as
permanent crops, they do not need to be replanted after every harvest. They
have been steadily taking over from cotton and lettuce because they are more
lucrative. "That's the highest and best use of the land," said Ryan Metzler,
45, who grows almonds near Fresno..."

             ***********************************************
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