The business of farming relies heavily on modern technology and scientific advance in order to decrease risk to investment and increase profit productivity.  Sometimes high tech can only mitigate or provide a hedge against what is not entirely controllable by mankind. Think — Mother Nature.

This month [February] we trust in nature, specifically, the Honey Bee. Almond Trees depend on
these intricate creatures for pollination. Unlike our Wine Grape Vines our trees do not self pollinate.  This time of year is when the magic happens. You’ve seen the beautiful blooms [early February] on our trees and now is the moment when all focus is upon them.

Although the bloom is a visual indicator of what’s happening or ready to happen; there are several things that have to come together. We utilize Contract Beekeeping. There are not enough random circulating Bees in the environment to service our concentrated area of 16,000+ trees. Each year we sign an agreement with Cantu Apiaries. They wholly manage the delivery, placement and retrieval of 352 Bee Colonies. OUR role is to see this  contract fulfilled through a visual count of the hives onsite and a date of placement verification. We also hire an independent Bee Inspector who will have a close up look-see.  His task is to invade their privacy while evading their wrath to count, grade and judge the health of the colonies. I expand upon the bee inspection process in a subsequent post.

It is interesting to know that these bees are frequent fliers. They winter where it is warm in Florida and are transported to California orchards at the onset of spring weather. From there they cycle through mild summer states like Idaho where they forage nectar and pollen from wild flowers. The weather during the almond pollinating window must be ideal. The Bees like a sunny and windless day. In fact, studies have shown that our friends are reluctant to leave the security of their colonies unless the climate is just right. We won’t want to see weather extremes such as an early spring frost or a heavy rainfall. These could be damaging to the blooms themselves. Rainy wet weather makes for degraded flying conditions and the Bees have much to get done. Dare I use the word busy? Groan. A fast read is The Bee Keepers Lament  a book that explains a lot about Bee Business and also delves into a serious industry threat called Colony Collapse Disorder.  Finally, ambient air temperature must be at least approximately 60 degrees or again our workers stay inside. Anyone care to fact check the exact number? Please leave your answer in the comment section.

So much is riding on this natural process. A success or let down directly relates to tree production and yield. Without pollination there will be no nuts. A little science provides an understanding the rest is pure art form. Mother Nature we are all counting on you!