Glossary
The practice of moving honey bee colonies from location to location throughout the year to access different nectar flows for honey production or to provide pollination services for agricultural crops. Migratory beekeeping is the foundation of commercial pollination in the United States.
The most important migratory route in American beekeeping centers on California almond pollination. Each February, approximately 2 million colonies (roughly 80 percent of all managed colonies in the US) are trucked to California's Central Valley to pollinate 1.3 million acres of almond trees. This single pollination event generates more revenue for beekeepers than any honey crop.
After almonds, colonies may move to apple orchards in Washington, cherry orchards in Michigan, blueberry fields in Maine, or cranberry marshes in Wisconsin. Between pollination contracts, they may be positioned on nectar-producing plants (clover in the Dakotas, orange in Florida) to produce honey crops.
Migratory beekeeping puts enormous stress on colonies. Loading hives onto trucks, transporting them hundreds or thousands of miles, unloading in unfamiliar territory, and exposure to pesticide-intensive agricultural operations all take a toll. Research has linked migratory stress to increased colony losses compared to stationary beekeeping.
Disease transmission is another concern. Congregating millions of colonies in a single location (like the California almond bloom) creates opportunities for pathogen and pest exchange between colonies from different regions. Varroa mite strains, viruses, and American foulbrood can spread rapidly when colonies from dozens of operations sit side by side.
Some commercial operations move colonies thousands of miles annually. A typical route might run from Florida (winter/spring) to California (February almonds), then to the northern plains (summer honey production), and back to Florida. Total annual transport distance can exceed 10,000 miles.
With proper preparation (securing lids, screening entrances, providing ventilation, moving at night when bees are inside), colonies tolerate transport well in the short term. However, the cumulative stress of multiple moves per year does impact colony health and longevity.
Almond pollination fees have risen to 200-250 dollars per colony in recent years. Apple pollination typically ranges from 75-150 dollars per colony. These fees represent a significant portion of commercial beekeeper revenue, often exceeding honey sales income.
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