Hi,

Here at the Xerces Society we are looking for information on pollination for small growers, i.e., those people who grow small areas of crops and who probably only need two or three hives for pollination. Some people say it is increasingly difficult for these people to get bees when they need them but we have little evidence one way or the other, hence my email today.

We're trying to find out how these growers get bees when they need them and what hurdles they may have to overcome. A few of the things we have been pondering include:
Do beekeepers find it difficult to provide a small number of hives to small growers?
Is the fact that they only need a handful of hives a barrier to them getting them?
Does demand for hives from large growers mean that there are no hives available?
Is is mainly hobbyist or part-time beekeepers who can help?
Do these growers tend to keep a few hives themselves?

Any information or illumination that Bee-L members can offer will be gratefully received. We're beginning to gather information that may help small growers get reliable pollination, whether from honey bees or other bees, managed or wild, and this sort of information will be very helpful in helping us to understand better the current situation.

Thanks,
    Matthew
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Matthew Shepherd, Pollinator Conservation Program Director
The Xerces Society
4828 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, OR 97215, USA
Tel: 503-232 6639 Fax: 503-233 6794
Email: [log in to unmask]
______________________________________________________
The Xerces Society is a nonprofit organization
dedicated to protecting the diversity of life
through the conservation of invertebrates.

For information and membership details,
see our website at www.xerces.org
______________________________________________________

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