>Or are we witnessing the current system for migratory beekeeping being driven to unsustainanbility  by pressure for profits in the related but external activity of almond growing?  

>And in that case will large holding yards be developed close to almonds, with bees being fed sugar through the year? 

>How do experienced beekeepers see the future? 

I believe the term is feedlot beekeeping.

If you look at things that are already happening in California, you will see beekeepers practicing feedlot beekeeping.  They feed large quantities of pollen sub and syrup.  They split their hives before almonds because the hives are so strong.  After almonds they sell bulk bees to queen producers to use for selling package bees.  They've even been known to ship a few loads of bees to the Dakotas for a honey crop.  Then the bees come back to the large holding yards for more feedlot beekeeping.

Instead of witnessing the current system for migratory beekeeping being driven to unsustainability by pressure for profits (as you word it), instead we see the current system for migratory beekeeping becoming MORE sustainable because these feedlot beekeepers strengthen a weak link in the chain.

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