Posts Tagged: almond orchards

Troubling Bee Shortage in Almond Orchards

California almond growers are worried--and rightfully so--about the honey bee shortage. Honey bee guru Eric Mussen, Extension apiculturist with the UC Davis Department of Entomology, said today that almond growers may not have enough bees to pollinate this year's crop of 800,000 acres. “We...

Honey bee heading toward an almond blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Honey bee heading toward an almond blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Honey bee foraging on an almond blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Honey bee foraging on an almond blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Off to the Almond Orchards

It's one of the most beautiful agricultural scenes you'll ever see--bee trucks heading to California almond orchards to pollinate one of the state's most important crops. When Extension apiculturist Eric Mussen of the UC Davis Department of Entomology asked California beekeepers for photos of...

Almond Blossoms

ALMOND TREE at the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility is just about ready to burst into bloom. This photo was taken Feb. 7. The commercial almond pollination season generally begins around Valentine's Day. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Bee Truck

BEE TRUCK, owned by Miller's Honeybees in Watsonville, is ready to move out to commercial almond orchards. (Photo by Bob Miller)

135 Colonies

THIS BEE TRUCK, owned by Miller's Honeybees, Watsonville, is loaded with about 135 colonies and is heading out to an almond orchard. (Photo by Bob Miller)

Bee Cluster

BEE CLUSTER forms at the back of a bee truck owned by Miller's Honeybees, Watsonville. (Photo by Bob Miller)

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