Renting hives for pollination

[Dr/B]

I'm looking for a sample contract for renting my hives out for pollination to some farmers next year. 

Anyone know where a beekeeper can find a sample contract available online?



Thanks


Dr/B :-D

[TwT]

seem a couple aren't there but Buckeye bee has a good one on this site

http://www.pollinator.com/Pollination_Beekeepers/sampcntr.htm

http://department.caes.uga.edu/entomology/bees/Pollination/Sample_Contract.htm

[rdy-b]

whats available in your area or are you going to follow the bloom 8-)  RDY-B

[Dr/B]

I've ran across a pretty big family operation of 4 brothers that farm about 1500 acres, about 600 in vegetables (pumpkins, squash, beans & corn), and the rest in cotton.  They are interested in renting some hives mainly for the vegetable pollination.  I just want to get a jump on next year's season.


I'm interested in information on:

the current rate per hive for just average farming operations ( not almond production )
sample contracts so I'll know how to draw up this transaction
recommended average # of hives per acre with vegetables


Thanks

Dr/B :-D

[Dr/B]

seem a couple aren't there but Buckeye bee has a good one on this site

http://www.pollinator.com/Pollination_Beekeepers/sampcntr.htm

http://department.caes.uga.edu/entomology/bees/Pollination/Sample_Contract.htm

These are EXACTLY what I'm looking for. 

Thanks lots!

Dr/B

[rdy-b]

you can make honey off the cotton but be careful the bees take a beating with the pesticide when they cant be moved in time   becarful about the wording (brood & bees) versus (bees & brood) it makes a difference if you have to fight for your money with that contract thumbs up  RDY-B

[sc-bee]

Not sure where the Deep South is Dr. B but around here in S.C. a colony usually rents for from $35- $45 dollars. I have heard of a guy local who is on the high end @ $65. They are getting larger and are mostly quitting local and beginning to move their hives to almond and other contracts.

If you have a local extension office in your area they can probably give you an idea of hives per acre. If not I think NC has a pollinator site on the web that list prices.

Around here there is not much need for pollinators. A couple big farmers mostly squash, cukes and melons.The older Gent I help gets $35 per hive and moves them all by hand and loads on a pick-up etc. He is 76 and it has got to be a big hassle.

Start @ a fair price for you and the farmer. And if possible start on trailers. The man I know and the other old timers in my area didn't and It makes the farmers think it is better to spread them out instead of using trailers. A lot of extra work.

And of course you know there has to be a lot of communication between you and the farmer on pesticide use!!!

Good Luck!

[TwT]

all in south ga are getting between 45-55 a hive, that ole timer needs to catch up with times, but maybe that's what he is depending on and is good enough for him so that's fine but average price is about $50
a hive for pollination!!!!!!!


I have a standard because I want to raise and sale queens, there is a guy that lives in Athens that wants me to put hives on his place for blue berries, I stand by my standards of at lest 10 hives for $50 a piece, he said no problem as long as I brought strong hives, there is no problem with that here, I can do thisand still raise queens
,  :-D

[sc-bee]

I agree with you TWT whole hearted!!! I would not do it for less than $50!!! But a few of the old timers have been doing it for years @ this price or a little lower. I think I have my friend convinced to go to $45 a hive --- if he does any @ all. Another old timer in Florence gets $35 also.

They are both too cheap on honey too. $35 dollars for a case of wholesale pints!!!! @ least I think too cheap. But he does about 15 to 19 55 gal drums a season and says he would get stuck with it @ a higher price. He don't sit @ markets etc. mostly wholesale to produce markets.

Sorry back on track---I believe a more realistic price for this are on pollination is $ 45 to $55 a colony.

If you can Twt--- help me teach the old dogs new tricks  :-D! Sometimes tricky!!!

[sc-bee]

 Here a link on contracts and other goodies:

http://www.pollinator.com/Pollination_Beekeepers/polbkprs.htm

[Michael Bush]

I figure it's not worth my work to load up and move an hive and load up and bring it home for less than $50 a hive.

[Dr/B]

Thanks guys for some great advice!

$50 seems a fair price to me. 

I'm looking at investing in a few 18 foot pull behind trailers, then keeping them full of hives just for my  pollination business. I'll use these trailers as the hive stands themselves, and just leave them on it year round and park them.   I've had my fill of loading and unloading 150-200 # hives into a pick-up truck.  My back says no no......  If it works out well, maybe just put my whole apiary on wheels.  :)


One problem locally here in Miss is with leasing out hives for watermelon production.  Once you get the hives placed, kids will come along and throw melons at the hives and destroy all of them for fun.  It's a real problem, and hard to solve, just short of building one of those re-bar encased trailers that protect the hives from anything.  Even with this sometimes they'll still shoot them with a shotgun or whatever, just for "fun"........almost impossible to stop..

   Of course a good solid contract would eliminate this, if the farmer had to replace them at $200 per hive......huh?

I've heard of beekeepers taking advantage of this, by splitting all their hives early in spring.  Leasing the nucs with a stipulation that any hive that dies the farmer has to replace, and this way if a split (nuc) doesn't make it, the beekeeper gets paid for the dead hive anyway, even if it's not the farmer's fault.  I would not do this, as I'm wanting a VERY good relationship with local farmers.  These guys are BIG TIME farming operations, and if I keep them satisfied, they'll want my bees every year for years to come.  Regular, repeat business ............. is the best !...........and I'll sleep better at night.


Dr/B :-D