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 -- Visit www.honeybeeworld.com/bee-l for rules, FAQ and other info ---