>>And where would the Growers get beekeepers to keep them alive???

Many growers could and should become beekeepers... Many apple orchard 
owners are also certified spray applicators - one has to go through 
training in a state-approved program in Washington - and some could 
be beekeepers.

Realizing that orchards are subject to spray applications and offer 
little forage to bees outside of the almond bloom period, the hives 
would have to be kept in outyards some distance from the orchards.    

I have been to CA only a few times but I believe outyards can be 
established where colonies could thrive most of the year.  If bees 
can be kept in Arizona, they can be kept in California.  AHB thrives 
throughout southern California. ;-)  In time, local bees would adapt 
very well, through natural selection, to sync their annual cycle to 
the local conditions.

Having said all of this, I am mindful of the potential size of such 
an undertaking!  If it takes 2-4 hives per acre of almonds and, a 
grower has eg. 200 acres, it may not be cost-effective for the grower 
to maintain 400-800 hives just for almond pollination... although if 
pollination fees reach $150 per hive then $150*400 hives = $60,000 in 
pollination costs per year.

I don't know if $60,000 means a lot to the average grower but I'd 
love to be a local beekeeper asked to fill this need...

Waldemar
Long Island, NY

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