> Alfalfa pollination <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pollination> is 
somewhat problematic, however, because Western honey bee, the most 
commonly used pollinator, are not suitable for this purpose

Unfortunately, this is not true.

The honey bee is not the _ideal_ alfalfa pollinator, however honey bees 
were widely used to vastly increase alfalfa yields before the leafcutter 
bees were imported and took over the seed pollination business.  As I 
recall, the seed yield increase from using honey bees was a bout a 
factor of ten.

Leaf cutters are much cheaper for the grower, since beekeepers were 
typically paid half the alfalfa seed crop for pollinating and many 
growers manage their own leafcutters and are not bothered by stings and 
honey, heavy hives, wintering, and all the other necessary honey bee 
activities.

Currently, honey bee keepers seek out alfalfa for the honey, which is 
excellent, and by being there do pollinate alfalfa hay crops. This 
pollination does not provide any benefit to the seed grower, and the 
beekeeper often pays a token amount of honey for the privilege of being 
on the land.

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