Commercial pollination services

[payzant]

Hi,

I am looking to improve my understanding of the pollination services industry. The communication chain between beekeepers and growers seems to be fairly complicated and vary greatly from region to region. I am beginning to realize that online research can only bring me so far, so I am looking for someone (e.g. beekeeper, broker, grower, etc...) who is knowledgeable in the industry for me to bounce some questions off of.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Teemore]

Try the Bee Farmers ASsociation in the UK for an informed view.

 

[enrico]

All I know is that in the uk the farmers used to pay us per hive on crops, not any more, they don't even ask if you would do it for free! I don't know anybody now who takes trailer loads of bees to crops.
E

 

[B+.]

I don't know anybody now who takes trailer loads of bees to crops.

I remember a certain beekeeper boasting at the Bee Farmers meetings that his bees had earned £40,000 from pollination before everyone else's had woken up in the spring. This wasn't that long ago either.

 

[stevebrowning]

All I know is that in the uk the farmers used to pay us per hive on crops, not any more, they don't even ask if you would do it for free! I don't know anybody now who takes trailer loads of bees to crops.
E

I take bees to borage, that's all I've done for the last ten days, load after load. Not paid though.

 

[B+.]

I take bees to borage, that's all I've done for the last ten days, load after load. Not paid though.

There isn't much borage being grown over here anymore. You're lucky to have it.

 

[alfazer]

I've heard of apple growers just buying packaged bumble bees each year to pollenate their orchards. Seems to be more convenient for small scale work, but Im aware things are a whole lot different in USA.

 

[Hedgerow Honey]

I take mine to an apple & plum orchard/osr/beans, it is an absolute pain but almost guaranties some sort of crop.

 

[payzant]

All I know is that in the uk the farmers used to pay us per hive on crops, not any more, they don't even ask if you would do it for free! I don't know anybody now who takes trailer loads of bees to crops.
E

What exactly do you mean here? If farmers don't pay you per hive on crops, how do they compensate you for pollination services?

By saying "you don't know anyone taking trailer-loads of bees to crops", do you mean that most pollination services are now smaller-scale, or essentially non-existent? If the latter, how to farmers pollinate their crops?

Thanks again for all the help, everyone.

 

[Hedgerow Honey]

Ok I can only comment on my own experience, Last year I had another keeper go round most of my farmers offering to pay for sites, fortunately he was told no thanks but it is a sad state because bees are supposed to be beneficial to both parties and no need for monies to change hands.

Commercial pollination I would expect to be paid for as I am providing a professional service whether one hive or a hundred.

 

[Beefriendly]

Commercial pollination I would expect to be paid for as I am providing a professional service whether one hive or a hundred.

You will find pollination contracts are quite specific in terms of numbers of hives, sizes of hives (i.e minimun 6 frames etc), 48 hour notice to move them to site (and off) it's very weather dependent), siting etc. They usually require more hives than us amateurs have, one hive being as much use as a fart in a space suit. But pollination contracts are still around.... Very fortunate is the farmer who grows borage and has beekeepers take their bees there for no money! His yield depends on the number of hives...usually around 1 per acre.
Wish I could get one for the heather moors

 

[Poly Hive]

There is not a lot of similarities TBH between here and over the pond. You have Almonds for example and we never will, or not in my lifetime anyway.

There are pollination contracts in the UK, and I know at least one member on here who takes bees to orchards but he is arguably the busiest man on here at the moment.

Best idea would be to contact your State Apiarist if they still exist and ask there. https://agr.wa.gov/PlantsInsects/apiary/

PH

 

[Hedgerow Honey]

I would argue about the one hive it depends on the size of the orchard and what the customer requires, I used to take one when I first started now six he is expanding as I am and I do get paid.

 

[Beefriendly]

it is a sad state because bees are supposed to be beneficial to both parties and no need for monies to change hands.

I used to take one when I first started now six he is expanding as I am and I do get paid.

Yes....I would probably do an exchange/swap deal as well.

 

[mbc]

I get a nice cheque for saturating an apple orchard with bees each spring, they sometimes get a crop of delicious honey too.

 

[Teemore]

What exactly do you mean here? If farmers don't pay you per hive on crops, how do they compensate you for pollination services?

By saying "you don't know anyone taking trailer-loads of bees to crops", do you mean that most pollination services are now smaller-scale, or essentially non-existent? If the latter, how to farmers pollinate their crops?

Thanks again for all the help, everyone.

There are amateur, commercial and semi commercial beekeepers who do contract to provide pollination services in the UK. Hobby beekeepers are less likely to seek payment or get paid for bringing their stocks to commercially grown crops. Their main goal is to get a crop of honey and for many hobby beekeepers of my acquaintance, that is the sole reward.

In the UK and Ireland, much pollination is satisfied by wind and by other pollinating insects of which we have a lot. Whilst some of these insects are in decline, we have yet to damage our environment sufficiently to the point where we "need" honeybees to pollinate crops. The presence of honeybees on managed crops does improve yield and seed/fruit set considerably hence the value in pollination contracts and the reason why both growers and beekeepers seek pollination contracts.

 

[Jimmy]

I take bees to borage, that's all I've done for the last ten days, load after load. Not paid though.

Are they your bees in the fields of borage off the Bidford-Stratford road?

 

[stevebrowning]

Yes

 

[payzant]

Thanks for the help everyone.

As a quick follow-up question, how do most beekeepers-growers get in contact with one another for pollination services? An individual mentioned in this thread that one beekeeper was literally going door-to-door advertising his services. On the other hand, it appears that the Bee Farmers' Association of the UK provides "pollination contracts" in exchange for an annual membership.

In other words, if I'm a grower looking to for pollination services, or a beekeeper looking to provide services, how do I begin my search?

Thanks again.

 

[wightbees]

I would Google your area for growers and start phoning or if I was a grower looking for bees I would contact BFA or local bka . Either way as I run a different business,I search for for what I'm looking for rather than wait for a call.