Got a possible pollination gig but not sure how much to charge per hive (should take one hive as one tree) & how long to leave hive on avocado tree. Not sure its variety or if grafted w/ A or B flowers, but bees should proliferate fruit more so. Whats the going rate per hive. Was hoping to trade for fruits so as to reduce the rate in any case. Any info would be appreciated as this is my first paid pollination gig.
David in Southern Calif
One hive isn't going to be a good deal for either party. I would agree on a trip price for each trip you make to set them, check them, and bring them home. Forget charging for the bees themselves.
Quote from: iddee on March 09, 2011, 04:48:57 PM
One hive isn't going to be a good deal for either party. I would agree on a trip price for each trip you make to set them, check them, and bring them home. Forget charging for the bees themselves.
Appreciate the timely reply Iddee. I get you on the time & gas & the bees & equipment, but whats your formula/considerations to get an average cost for this. Do pollinator guys & ladies just average these costs to make a cost per hive? I thought the price per hive was a set standardized amount? The tree to be pollinated is near me, 5 miles or less, so not to far. Anyone have an approximate recent example of all that you consider to charge/trade for pollination services? Gotta run & water my table grape starts & follow up on possible cut out. Will touch base later this eve.
David in southern, Calif
It's like the price of honey. It's just what the market will bear in the area you are in.
Do avocado flowers produce nectar? or it's just pollen?
Montauk170 go to Whole Foods & see the cornucopia of specialty honeys they offer. Avocado honey is a darker rich one but still haven't tasted.
http://www.honey.com/nhb/about-honey/honey-varietals/ (http://www.honey.com/nhb/about-honey/honey-varietals/)
Been looking in archives & it looks like for different crops different prices are offered but this was years ago so not sure if current. Mike Bush said if under $50 per hive its not worth it. Apple growers offer lower prices than almond growers. Almonds have bitter nectar only good for the bees & the keepers make many early packages w/ the out flow many times. Seen $40 - $175 per hive w/ a max of 6 wks for the flowering duration time. Almonds seem to get the highest price. Some go by $12.50 (years ago) per each full frame & 8-10 drawn frames are considered to be optimum sought strength for pollination.
Good point Iddee, supply & demand comes into play & also how well the farmer plans ahead or doesn't ( got em over barrel ).
Also been reading of avocados & their challenging fruit set w/ the flowers than open at different times:
"The story of pollination in avocado is a remarkable one, and it makes one appreciate how hard it is to get fruit to set. Avocados have flowers that open twice, on two successive days. The first day the pistil is receptive and protrudes from the flower; the second day the pistil is no longer receptive, and the stamens shed their pollen. Here is an example of protogyny ( protogyny—female function precedes male function—and protandry—male function precedes female function. ), which means that the female is mature before the male ("early female"). The consequence of this is that a flower cannot self pollinate, but requires transfer of pollen, typically by bees, from another flower, often another tree. Within avocado there happen to be cultivars that open with a receptive pistil in the morning of Day I and then reopen in the afternoon with stamens of Day 2 (A Group). Other avocados open with a receptive pistil in the afternoon of Day I and then reopen in the morning with stamens on Day 2 (B Group). Some growers take advantage of these differences and plant the two near each other, so that pollen from B (AM) can be transferred to Day 1 (AM) pistils, and Day 2 (PM) pollen can be transferred to Day 1 pistils (PM). Fortunately, flowers do not always behave so regularly, so some fruits may form on trees if some of its flowers are out of synchrony. An avocado tree typically produces a million flowers per year but only sets dozens or up to 400 fruits.", 1
1 - http://www.botgard.ucla.edu/html/botanytextbooks/economicbotany/Persea/index.html (http://www.botgard.ucla.edu/html/botanytextbooks/economicbotany/Persea/index.html)
This is just tip of ice berg but live & learn.
David in southern Calif
Ah nice, thanks for the info on avocado. At my parents house where we now have some hives at, a neighbor has a HUGE avocado tree. I'll be keeping an eye on that tree when it blooms to see if my bees are working it.
Wait, did I read correctly, the avocado bloom is only TWO DAYS?
Quote from: montauk170 on March 10, 2011, 03:05:26 AM
Ah nice, thanks for the info on avocado. At my parents house where we now have some hives at, a neighbor has a HUGE avocado tree. I'll be keeping an eye on that tree when it blooms to see if my bees are working it.
Wait, did I read correctly, the avocado bloom is only TWO DAYS?
The flowers open two different days but the flowering over the whole tree opens over a few weeks as in most trees. I'm trying to figure out whats an average period of time the avocado flowers open. A few weeks to a month or more? Anyone find an average length of time to place bees near or in avocado groves to get them pollinated?
David in southern Calif