Aaron Morris wrote: ... more money ... from almond pollination alone, than
from all honey sales!=20
How do these figures compare to the worth of the almond harvest?

Well, a billion pound crop at $2.00 a pound (this price will not last too
many years) would be $2 billion.  Pollination would account for 8.5% of that
gross income.

Aaron, realize that this situation won't last forever.  The demand for
almonds is currently matching supply exactly, so almond nut prices are
strong.  Once prices start to fall, the growers won't be able to afford
sky-high pollination prices.  Western beekeepers need to figure out how to
ramp up their numbers by getting a handle on varroa, doing more "feedlot"
beekeeping, and mechanizing to minimize labor.

Randy Oliver

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