Commercial beekeepers are demanding higher fees for their pollination services this year, with the cost to rent bee colonies for almond orchards rising 15 percent compared to 2024 rates.
According to new data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, the increased expenses reflect the ongoing pressures facing the commercial beekeeping industry.
The price hike comes as almond growers rely heavily on rented bee colonies to pollinate their crops, making this cost increase a significant factor in overall production expenses. California’s almond industry depends on billions of bees trucked in from across the country each spring for the critical pollination period.
This upward trend in pollination costs may eventually impact consumer prices for almonds and almond-based products, as growers face higher operational expenses during the crucial growing season.
