Pollinator Organization

[Sundance]

Would you support a Pollinator Organization?

[JohnK and Sheri]

Bruce
Although I voted "yes", as a general answer I would worry about giving this organization any teeth. As an information gathering/dispersing organization I think it could be very useful, but I think any role as negotiator would meet resistance from many beeks who have managed OK on their own.
Sheri

[greenbeekeeping]

Hmmm. I see that it would be a good thing to have such an organization but I don't think we need a third beekeeper national organization. Rather a strong unified national beekeepers association that can relate to the idustry as a whole not just a single segment of the business.

[JohnK and Sheri]

Good point Matt,
As in most organizations, special interest committees/groups could form within the association. One of the problems is there are so many special interest groups in the industry it is tough for them to all get along under one tent. How to unify these interests has always been the problem. Sometime by dealing with single issues (or at least fewer of them) it is easier to find common ground.
Seems like individuals can belong to narrower and narrower interest groups as needs are percieved. For instance, lots of folks around here belong to the Farm Bureau, then some might be cranberry growers, some might be dairy. Out of the dairy farmers, some might belong to the organic dairy association. If the big tent isn't dealing with the specific issues in a satisfactory way other organizations fill the need.
Sheri

[Sundance]

Then please explain to me what the
current organizations are doing in
regard to the almond pollination
fiasco.

[greenbeekeeping]

As far as I know nothing.

[Panhandle Bee man]

Sundance,

What fiasco? Prices have almost tripled in the last 4 years. Reality is that the fiasco is on the growers part. A few years ago they panicked over a percieved lack bee hives. Last year, and indications are this year the growers are trying to "correct" the effects of the panic. Beekeepers are just trying to get what they can while the getting is good. Looking into my crystal ball in the next 3-5 years the price will continue to fluxuate, and then will drop due to a worldwide over production of almonds. And beekeepers will move on to the next "best" thing. 6 years ago honey wholesaled $1.40-1.60 range now it has climbed back up $.90 range. To be succesful as commericail beekeeper you have to be prepared for all these things and be ready to move on.

[JohnK and Sheri]

It definitely was a fiasco for some beeks who shipped out to a percieved shortage of bees and ended either getting turned around for some reason at the border, getting quarantined until after the bloom, or not being able to place their bees once in the state.
But in general I would agree it isn't so much a case of fiasco as a case of bluff and extreme posturing on all sides leading to mass confusion.8-)
Sheri

[loggermike]

It was a fiasco for those who didnt know what they were getting into and the hoops that need to be jumped through.Bob Harrison,and Randy Oliver have done a good job of making beeks aware of these issues.So if there are still any virgins out there well come on, the California gold rush is waiting for you....... [img]smile.gif[/img]

[BjornBee]

"Worldwide over production of almonds"??? I thought 95% of the worlds almonds were grown in California. And I also thought that recent demand for almonds on the world economy was ever increasing. I can't remember where, but I recently read that the world demand is very strong for almonds and the potential demand has no end in sight. Are there other countries planting almonds to fill this need and able to lower U.S. production (or at least prices) that it will be felt within 3 - 5 years?

Am I wrong in this? I thought the almond industry was very strong with a great future in sight.

[notaclue]

If I remember reading somewhere, even maybe in one of our bee magazines also, that almonds are very particular about what conditions they are grown in to produce a satisfactory crop. That is even with pollenation from all pollinators. Correct me please if I'm wrong, but that makes for a very small choice of where to plant on the planet.

[Panhandle Bee man]

Australia, and China are beggining to grow them, also Turkey is increasing their plantings. Plus the huge increase in US orchards.

The almonds do best in a Med type climate

[JBJ]

Pollinator organization? You are asking beeks to cluster like bees. Perhaps we could be like the bees we serve. It could serve use well to be of bee mind. The global hive will allocate its resources where there is demand. Does California really have a lock on favorable almond terrain?
JBJ

[BjornBee]

JBJ, perhaps not favorable almond terrain, but I would suggest a near lock on almond production. 95% of something worldwide is as good as it gets.

Marcipan(sp) is an almond product loved outside this country and is somewhat expensive. It is an almond paste used in the finest chocolates and desserts in europe. I beleive the world market for almonds is a sleeping giant and the future market and production is nowhere near the future potential. I am sure that other countries will jump on board and begin increasing production. But with increasing demand and production lag time, the market looks very good for a good number of years to come. As with all products, supply and demand never stay the same.

I have read that worldwide, there is somewhat of a void not being filled by the almond producers since world demand had been increasing very much. But I see that as about the same as the bee industry. We(U.S.) do not have enough bees, and can not produce enough honey for our own use. Somewhere, somehow, this void always gets filled.

[sierrabees]

<And I also thought that recent demand for almonds on the world economy was ever increasing.>

I can remember when they couldn't make enough hula hoops to satisfy the world demand. Today a lot of people would respond to that statement with, "enough hula WHAT".

I voted yes too, but agree with Sheri that another organization doesn't necessissarily lead to solutions. Most organizations become self perpetuating entities once their usefullness is gone and end up being another drain on recources.

We are a pretty independent and self sufficient bunch of people, and anything that helps us evaluate a situation so we can make good decisions has value, so in these rather confusing conditions there would be value to an information gathering organization. An organization that tried to be an iron pumping mucscle flexing, PAC forming power house like the Almond Board is something I would distance myself from imediately.

Agriculture always has been and always will be a crap shoot. There are times when the dice are hot and no predicting when they will turn cold. Add to that the world competition from rapidly modernization of third world countries, the loss of the American work ethic, difficulty getting help when you need it, cost of american labor if you can even find help, and you have to be a dreamer to think this is going to be more than a passing opportunity. We need all the help we can to take advantage of it so we can weather the next storm.

<Does California really have a lock on favorable almond terrain?>

Yes. And I have some tickets for an ocean cruise sailing from Bute Montana I'd like to sell.