Cherry Pollination....

[OzBuzz]

Hi Guys,

I've been asked to supply two hives to a cherry orchard here in Victoria, Australia... I've suggested they should go with more but they're insistent that it's only two. Anyway, i'm going to set a minimum fee of $200 AUS to cover my costs and the fact my hives will be out for four weeks or so... worst they can say is that's too expensive - i think the going rate over here is around $75 AUS per hive and delivery costs are negotiated - it's about a 200km return trip to where this orchard is.

Anyway, Cherries - what are they like for the bees? good nectar and pollen?

[rdy-b]

Bees do well on cherries-but the size of the orchard must be large enough for them to benefit -only two hives needed would worry me that the orchard is not big enough to HOLD the bees -and if there is other forage around the bees may seek this instead-sometimes better for the grower to saturate his orchard with bees than to skimp-RDY-B

[Michael Bush]

I don't know how far and what the going rate there is.  In the US I have a minimum of $200 US and for that I take four hives.  Any less isn't worth my trouble to haul them.

[Jim 134]

Who big is the orchard ? and Acres or Hectares


    BEE HAPPY Jim 134