A new study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign introduces innovative pollination contracts that cater to both beekeepers’ risk management needs and California almond growers’ requirements. Read more about how these agreements aim to improve the lives of honey bees and the operations of commercial beekeepers.
As global native bee populations continue to decline, U.S. crop production increasingly relies on commercial pollination services. Addressing this critical gap, a new study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign explores pollination contracts between beekeepers and California almond growers, identifying contractual clauses that could benefit both parties significantly.
“There’s about 1.3 million acres of almond trees in California, and each acre requires two honeybee hives for pollination, so that’s about 2.6 million honeybee hives every year,” corresponding author Brittney Goodrich, an assistant professor in the Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics, said in a news release. “They are coming from all over the U.S., making the trek to get there by February 15 when the almonds usually start blooming, and they stay for about a month.”
The study, published in Ecological Economics, highlights the immense scope of this undertaking, where approximately 90% of the country’s commercial bee colonies gather in California for the almond bloom. These bees then transition to other regions like North Dakota for honey production in the summer and spend winters in warmer states such as Texas and Florida.
“You can think of commercial beekeepers as livestock producers who engage in rotational grazing, moving colonies to the places where there are flowers blooming so the bees can find food. I’m interested in how beekeepers deal with risk in their operation and how that affects pollination contracts,” Goodrich added.
With native bee populations under threat from pesticide use, diseases, pests, monoculture crops and loss of native forage land, managed insect pollination has become crucial.
To address this, the researchers conducted an online survey with commercial beekeepers who had experience in almond pollination. Respondents were presented with a standard contract and two alternative options featuring clauses that protect against pesticide exposure, introduce bee-friendly cover crops and offer prepayment terms.
The survey revealed that beekeepers highly valued the pesticide protection clause, which included measures like banning tank mixes of fungicides and ensuring applications occur at night to minimize bee exposure. Beekeepers showed a willingness to accept an $8 discount per colony for these protections.
“Usually, fungicides aren’t harmful to honey bees, but they can become synergistically toxic if they are mixed together. We included a contract clause specifying that growers would not tank mix fungicides, and they would only apply at night, when honey bees aren’t foraging, so the risk of exposure is low,” Goodrich added.
Beekeepers also placed significant value on flowering cover crops, which offer nutritional benefits that help bees withstand pesticide exposure. The brassica mix drew particular interest, valued at about $6 per colony, while the soil builder mix with legumes, brassica and grasses followed closely.
“These results are encouraging because cover crops can also provide soil health benefits for almond growers” added Goodrich. “However, there are often water shortages in California due to droughts, and growers typically have micro sprinkling systems that only reach the almond trees. There is a risk of paying for cover crop seeds which may not get enough rain to germinate.”
The survey further showed that beekeepers appreciate a 40% prepayment before arriving in California, as it guarantees income and aids in transport and preparation costs. This prepayment model provides financial stability for beekeepers while offering a flexible option for growers who can afford upfront fees.
“Our findings show that farmers of pollinated crops can include features that will make pollination contracts more attractive to beekeepers. Maybe it won’t necessarily lead to a discount, but it might lead to attracting a beekeeper to your farm that you weren’t going to get otherwise,” Goodrich added. “For beekeepers, this information can provide suggestions for contract negotiations, such as accepting discounts for pesticide protection, cover crops or prepayment. It helps to know there are ways to obtain mutually beneficial arrangements.”
By offering a more sustainable and mutually beneficial approach to pollination contracts, this innovative research provides a promising avenue to support both agricultural productivity and the health of critical pollinator populations.