> >Five years ago I suggested commercial beekeepers ban together as a group > >and let the group negotiate fees and payment methods with the almond > >grower organizations. In the Alberta hybrid canola seed pollination, the seed companies hire and manage the beekeepers and handle payment as well. The farmers just provide the drop locations, grow the crops -- and pull beekeepers out if they get stuck in the mud. This is great from a beekeeper perspective, since large, well-known companies write the contracts and even pay advances. Bankers consider a contract with large multi-national to be like money in the bank, and beekeepers, assuming they perform at all acceptably, don't need to always watch their backs and wonder if they will get paid. *********************************************** The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html Access BEE-L directly at: http://community.lsoft.com/scripts/wa-LSOFTDONATIONS.exe?A0=BEE-L