World Ag Expo Conversation Highlights the Critical Role of Bees
At the World Ag Expo, plenty of attention goes to equipment, markets, and policy. But one of the most essential inputs in California agriculture often gets overlooked: bees.
In a recent Ag Meter interview, Daniel Teran, Field Marketing Manager for Bee Hero, made it clear — without bees, there is no almond crop.
California’s almond industry relies almost entirely on managed honey bee pollination. Each year, virtually every commercial hive in the United States migrates to California for almond bloom. But last year brought serious disruption.
Colony losses were high. Supply was tight. Demand surged. Many growers struggled to secure quality hives in time.
One Shot at Pollination
Almond bloom lasts just three to four weeks — typically mid-February through early March. Growers get one opportunity to set their crop. If pollination doesn’t happen during that narrow window, yield potential is permanently reduced.
Weather compounds the risk.
Bees will not fly in:
- Heavy rain
- Cold temperatures
- Windy conditions
Hard rain can also knock blossoms off trees, reducing pollination opportunities even further. If hives are not already placed before storms arrive, muddy orchard floors can make deployment nearly impossible.
On the other hand, warm, sunny days are ideal. Bees are light-oriented and highly responsive to UV-reflective flower signals, making good weather critical for strong foraging activity.
Two Hives Per Acre? Not Always
Traditionally, almond growers use about two hives per acre. But Bee Hero takes a more data-driven approach.
Instead of focusing solely on box counts, the company uses in-hive sensor technology to measure colony strength — specifically frame counts and bee activity levels. This allows pollination programs to be customized based on:
- Tree age
- Orchard density
- Variety
- Overall hive strength
That precision matters. Pollination is often the second- or third-largest expense for almond growers, alongside irrigation and crop protection.
As almond prices remain under pressure, growers cannot afford uncertainty around such a critical input.
A Nationwide Network Supporting the Central Valley
Bee Hero works with beekeepers across Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Florida, Texas, and beyond — monitoring hives year-round using in-hive sensors. By the time colonies arrive in California’s Central Valley, growers have greater visibility into hive quality and expected performance.
The company reports strong deployment heading into 2026, with dashboards providing growers real-time pollination data.
Bees Are Now “Gold”
With tight supplies and high demand, hive values have surged. Individual hives can be worth hundreds — even thousands — of dollars. Theft has become a real concern in parts of the Central Valley, with law enforcement task forces addressing hive crime.
That reality underscores just how valuable pollination has become.
As Teran emphasized, bees are not just another input — they are infrastructure. Without strong colonies during bloom, nothing else in the production system can compensate.
Why You Should Listen to the Full Interview
The full Ag Meter interview dives deeper into:
- The biology and lifecycle of honey bees
- How colonies are monitored before migration
- What growers should watch during bloom
- Why timing ahead of rain is critical
- What 2026 looks like for bee supply
If you’re an almond grower — or anyone connected to specialty crop production — this is a conversation worth hearing in full.
Because in today’s market, bees truly are gold.