Keith,

>Why would they go back to California without a contract again???

They were only offered $75 last spring after almonds to sign. Beekeepers
which had always before signed held out for the higher prices the brokers
said they could get. They told us we could clear over a $100 after expenses
except the same brokers forgot to mention their rigged grading system. I am
not talking about some other person > I AM SAYING WHAT I WAS TOLD MYSELF!

>I'm not saying that a verbal agreement should be broken, but come on,
shouldn't the beekeeper who is making the same mistake twice take some of
the blame??

If you do the math there should have been a shortage of bees this year. With
50% of out of state hives being rejected for not up to standards ( and quite
a few California hives) there should have been a shortage.

The only possible answer to the glut of bees is that some growers simply did
not rent bees. There is no other possible answer.

>Ever heard of " a second opinion", county or private.

I don't know where you are all getting this grading thing. Until this year
we NEVER  had bees graded in California. I have spent weeks at a motel in
Kermin with 15-20 out of state beekeepers. The subject of grading hives
never came up. We sat outside around the picnic table waiting for the call
to place around 30,000 + hives into almonds for days. We ate breakfast at
the same restaurant. Watched the super bowl at the same bar. The subject
never came up once!

Of course we never were offered the prices offered this year. The bulk of
hives brought $65 in 2005. $55 in 2004 and $45 in 2005.

 We placed over 2000 hives each night in almonds for days at a time.

This is not my first rodeo!

> If what I hear is true,  many won't return, and supply and demand takes
effect, then maybe next year I can trade in my Porsches in for a Ferrari.

I never met a "rich" beekeeper and I am on a first name basis with the two
largest beekeepers the world has ever seen. Like I said earlier and will
repeat. 80% of samples in the LA area (not far from you) are testing
positive for AHB genetics. Growers want to open the border to Mexican hives
to save the almond business. Special permission to enter to pollinate!
Can you match $25 a hive almond pollination fees?
We have been able to hold the border closed using AHB as the reason. The
reason is fast disappearing. I suggests you only buy what you can pay cash
for and save some of your money from this year for hard times.

How long have you been getting rich in the bee business with almond
pollination fees? Wasn't last year your first year of outside of scale
prices?
Was for us. Some hives went in late at $100 a hive.

Bob

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