Recently, the fast expanding planting of new trees has increased demand for bees and driven the price per hive higher. Following seasons more beekeepers flooded the market with hives just as drought and EPA restrictions cut back on orchards in need of bees.
This season there were heavy losses in hives of bees trucked into California resulting in shortage again for the growers. Market prices for hives for pollination have ranged from $45 (several yrs ago) to $200 more recently, depending on the volatile supply and demand. There are a couple of brand new factors that will permanently change the tradition of annual almond pollination industry.