i am expecting a call for my first pollination contract this week, it was previously filled by the beek i bought out. it's a pie cherry orchard about 75 miles from home. the beek i bought out said he charged 40 per hive, but in mid may his hives were pretty poor, no sub or syrup fed and some were brand new splits. it seems to require 1 trip to set hives, 2 trips to close them in during spray ( i don't know what they spray) and picking them up. i would like to charge 45 per hive (which i don't think he'll have a problem with) i just wonder if i am screwing things up for others at that price.the local commercial beeks who could fill the contract are not usually back from cali by then. i am also wondering if it would be ethical to put 3# packages on drawn comb with sub and syrup 3 weeks to a month before the contract begins and charge for those.packages don't usually arrive until mid april and the contract should start mid may. i went into winter with 32 hives, and i believe the orchard will take up to 50 so if everyone survives i would be taking 18 of the new package hives. thanks for advice and opinions. justin