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Every February, the California Almond Bloom turns the state’s Central Valley into the epicenter of global pollination. It marks the single largest pollination event in the world, determining the yield for 80% of global almond supply.
Unfortunately, this past season revealed growing strains, and the traditional pollination model has started to come under more and more pressure.
Conventional wisdom suggests that more bees equals more pollination, and that bee shortages are to blame for diminishing yields and rising costs. But as recent seasons have shown, the answer to effective pollination is more complex. Quantity still matters – but the real differentiator is hive quality.
This past winter, U.S. beekeepers reported that, on average, they lost more than half of their colonies. When bloom arrived, healthy hive supplies simply couldn’t keep up with demand and almond growers felt the pinch. Indeed, without sufficient hives, farmers were unable to take full advantage of the almond bloom window – just a few weeks in February and early March. The resultant setbacks can ripple through an entire year’s worth of operations.
The challenge isn’t just biological, it’s economic. Pollination now represents nearly 20% of almond growers’ operating costs, making it one of agriculture’s most costly inputs, and with margins diminishing in the past few years, the need to reduce pollination costs has never been more pressing. The numbers tell a sobering story: in 2024, U.S. farm bankruptcies rose 55%, with California leading all states.
Together, the pressures of fewer healthy hives and rising costs are forcing a fundamental rethink of how pollination is managed. Instead of chasing more hives, growers are beginning to ask how to get more from each.
The convergence of cost pressures and hive shortages has created a perfect storm, one that is driving growers to double down on fewer, higher-quality hives that can optimize pollination while still controlling expenses.
A recent study of California almond orchards found that strong bee colonies begin foraging about 45 minutes earlier each day and continue nearly 40 minutes later into the evening than weaker colonies. That equates to over one extra hour of daily activity at a time when every flower counts, leading to better fruit set and more consistent yields. In contrast, weaker hives often sit idle during the cooler mornings and buzz off early when temperatures dip in the evening.
In other words, ten strong colonies can do more work than fifteen weak ones.
This past almond season proved that growers with strong, healthy colonies will fare better than those reliant on larger numbers of weaker hives. The shift is subtle but powerful: strength, not scale, is now the defining measure of pollination success.
Fewer hives per acre also means reduced fees, less crowding in orchards, and lower stress on both bees and beekeepers. Stronger colonies are also better positioned to withstand environmental pressures such as cold snaps or rain during bloom, which can shorten the already tight pollination windows.
Timing adds another layer of advantage. For growing almonds specifically – almond pollen release often peaks in late morning and tapers by early afternoon – those extra flight hours from strong colonies can be the difference between surviving to the next season and bringing the bees to their knees.
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This evolution in strategy doesn’t happen in isolation, it reshapes relationships across the entire ecosystem. Shifting to a fewer-but-stronger hives approach also bolsters the relationship between growers and pollination solution providers. For growers, the message is straightforward: Securing fewer but higher-quality hives early is essential risk management and financial practice. Forging early partnerships with pollination providers not only locks in availability but also gives beekeepers the predictability they need to maintain strong colonies.
Strong colonies don’t just emerge – they require year-round investment, so the sooner growers can begin working with pollination solution providers, the better. Hives also benefit from concerted improvement efforts that span multiple seasons. Long-term partnerships between growers and pollination providers can help both sides succeed while reducing last-minute scrambling that stresses bees and leaves orchards under-serviced.
Despite the encouraging signs of stabilization in bee populations across several key regions, pesticide exposure, parasitic mites, and habitat loss continue to challenge colony health. The path forward requires not just resilience, but smarter deployment of that resilience.
Growers simply can’t afford to bet on their standard number of hives; the future of pollination isn’t about expansion – it’s about optimization. It lies in efficiency: fewer colonies that are stronger, healthier, thoughtfully placed, and strategically managed. For almond growers, ensuring the strength of their hives must be treated as a pillar of orchard and yield management.
Ultimately, the lesson from the almond orchards is clear: in pollination, strength beats numbers.
Ready to see how precision pollination can cut costs and improve outcomes? Contact us today to learn more.
