>With the high value of pollinating units at present, there is no
indication that the number will fall below 2.5 million hives. If it were to
rise, on the other hand, the price offered to beekeepers for pollination
would fall, and we would start back down. Obviously, these numbers are
market driven.


We have two different, but sometimes related, issues here--the decline in
wild pollinators, and the market forces that match the supply of managed
pollinators to demand.  Many confuse the two.

There are large beekeepers at this moment trying to get a feel for next
year's market in order to determine the number of hives that they want to
produce between now and next February for almonds.  This decision will be
solely based upon profitability, which is directly dependent upon the
offered rental rate.

-- 
Randy Oliver
Grass Valley, CA
www.ScientificBeekeeping.com

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