Pollination Service Markets: Evolution and Outlook
Peyton Ferrier
This theme discusses the origins, operations, and institutions of pollination markets with two main results. First, farmers utilize well-developed markets for pollination services when necessary rather than leaving pollination to chance. Second, increased demand for pollination services from California almond orchards has reshaped the revenue structure of the beekeeping industry.
Randal R. Rucker, Walter N. Thurman, and Michael Burgett
Since 2007, public concern has been voiced over honey bee health and Colony Collapse Disorder. In this article, we discuss the conclusions that can be drawn using the latest data on overwinter mortality and USDA counts of honey bee colonies, including the implications of changes in honey bee health status on the food supply.
Brittney K. Goodrich
California almond pollination contracts are becoming more formalized and commonly incorporate minimum standards and incentives for colony strength. On average, growers paid a 5.7% premium for colonies contracted above the industry standard colony strength requirement. Pollination agreements typically include clauses regarding pesticide use, late placement, and beekeeper access to colonies.
Antoine Champetier, Hyunok Lee, and Daniel A. Sumner
Almond planting data indicate that pollination service demand from almond growers is likely to increase and induce a higher proportion of U.S. colonies to migrate to almonds. Adoption of varieties with lower pollination requirements might mitigate impacts of pollination fee increases gradually, with favorable net returns to adoption.
Antoine Champetier, Hyunok Lee, and Daniel A. Sumner
After almond pollination, many beekeepers struggle to find safe habitat and forage or places to make honey. Increasing demand for pollination services may induce beekeepers to: (i) adjust away from almond pollination toward marketable honey or (ii) exploit the healthy forage in almond orchards to build strong hives for honey-making.
Peyton Ferrier
Since the end of the Honey Program, U.S. programs supporting beekeeping have focused on trade protection, colony loss compensation, and weather-based insurance. New USDA data on colony loss and pollination service costs show that while loss rates remain high, colony numbers are stable and large pollination fee increases have mostly been constrained to almonds.