The Almond Pollination Guide for Commercial Beekeepers

California Almond Board estimates that without commercial pollination, almond yields would drop by over 80%. Every almond you've ever eaten was made possible by a beekeeper's hives sitting in a California orchard during February bloom. That's the context for why the industry takes this season so seriously, and why the expectations for beekeepers have risen significantly over the past decade.

This is the complete reference for almond season, covering colony preparation, contract terms, bloom timing, logistics, and documentation.

TL;DR

California almond pollination consumes roughly 80% of the US commercial hive population every February, making it the most supply-constrained pollination market in the country.
Per-hive rates have held between $185 and $220 for 6-8 frame colonies over recent seasons.
Contracts are typically signed October through November for the following February season; operators without agreements by December are working from a weak position.
Hive strength minimums range from 6 to 8 frames of bees depending on the grower, with premium-strength colonies commanding $200-215/hive.
varroa management, documentation, and logistics coordination in the 6-8 weeks before delivery determine whether almond season is profitable or a breakeven event.

Part 1: Colony Preparation for Almond Season

Starting in Summer and Fall

Almond-ready colonies in February start their preparation in August. The colony's winter population, and therefore its spring strength, is determined by the queen's laying pattern in August through September and the varroa control program you run through fall.

August varroa treatment: Colonies entering winter with high varroa loads produce weaker bees with shorter lifespans and reduced immune function. These bees die disproportionately over winter, leaving you with understrength colonies in January. A late-summer varroa treatment (oxalic acid, formic acid, or hop guard, depending on your management program) is the single most important preparation step for almond season.

Fall nutrition: Colonies building up fall populations on pollen and nectar build stronger winter clusters and emerge with better spring populations. Supplemental pollen feed in October, especially in areas with limited fall forage, directly affects your February colony strength.

Winter configuration: Colonies overwintering in California's Central Valley don't face extreme cold, but they do need adequate food stores and wind protection. Colonies in colder wintering areas (Northern Plains, Pacific Northwest) need additional insulation and more conservative fall food stores.

What Almond-Ready Means

A colony that meets the California Almond Board's referenced standard of 8 frames of bees has:

A laying queen with a solid brood pattern
6-8 or more frames covered with adult bees (both faces)
4-6+ frames of capped brood indicating continued growth
Adequate honey stores for the transition period before bloom opens

A 6-frame minimum contract colony has:

A functioning queen
5.5-6+ frames of adult bee coverage
Some brood frames indicating colony stability

The difference in forager output between these two standards is significant. An 8-frame colony may provide 40-50% more daily forager-hours during bloom than a 6-frame minimum colony. This is why growers pay premiums for documented strength.

Pre-Move Assessment Timeline

For almond season deliveries:

Complete strength assessments no more than 7 days before planned delivery
California Almond Board's recommendation is within 48 hours of delivery
Many contracts specify the assessment window in the contract terms

PollenOps pre-move strength assessment generates a report from your field checklist that includes assessment date, each hive's strength score, and the summary statistics for the yard. This report connects to your contract compliance record.

Part 2: Almond Contracts

What California Almond Contracts Typically Specify

Almond contracts have become more standardized over the past decade, particularly for growers working with multiple operators across large acreage. The standard terms:

Hive count and density: 2-3 hives per acre, with the total contracted hive count calculated from the planted orchard acreage.

Strength minimum: 6-8 frames of bees, depending on the contract tier. The California Almond Board's 8-frame standard is referenced in premium contracts.

Delivery deadline: Most commonly "before 10% bloom," with a specific date range (e.g., "no earlier than February 1, no later than first day of 10% bloom").

Health certificate: Required for all out-of-state hives, specified in the contract.

County registration: Many contracts require proof of county apiary registration before delivery.

Payment: Standard structure is 50% deposit at delivery, 50% balance within 30 days of service period end. Some growers pay full upon delivery if they have an established relationship.

Cancellation: Most contracts specify a compensation structure for grower-initiated cancellation after a certain date, reflecting the repositioning cost for the beekeeper.

Negotiating Terms That Protect You

When reviewing a contract, watch for:

Vague delivery requirements: "Deliver before bloom" without a specific date range or bloom percentage is ambiguous. Get a specific window.

Unilateral strength inspection rights: Some growers include rights to inspect and reject hives at delivery. If this is in your contract, ensure the inspection methodology is specified (who inspects, by what standard, what remedies are available).

Payment conditioned on crop yield: This is a problematic term if you encounter it. Your service is providing bees during bloom, not guaranteeing crop outcomes affected by weather, irrigation, pest management, and many other factors outside your control.

Termination without compensation: Contracts that allow the grower to terminate without compensation after bees are delivered are missing standard protection. Include a minimum service period with proration if termination occurs.

PollenOps almond contract template includes standard terms that protect both parties, with fields pre-populated for the most common California almond contract specifications.

Part 3: Bloom Timing

Understanding the Timing Drivers

Almond bloom timing is determined by two factors that interact:

Chilling hours: Almond trees need a certain number of hours below 45°F during dormancy to complete their chilling requirement. Once the chilling requirement is met, the tree is primed to break dormancy when temperatures rise.

Growing degree days: After dormancy break, accumulated heat drives bloom development. More growing degree days accumulate faster in warm weather, advancing bloom. Fewer accumulate in cold, wet weather, delaying bloom.

In most years, this produces bloom timing that falls within 1-2 weeks of historical averages for each district. In unusual years, bloom can advance 10-14 days (warm January after adequate chilling) or delay by a similar amount (insufficient chilling followed by cold February).

District-Level Timing

The Central Valley blooms south to north:

Southern San Joaquin Valley (Kern County): Typically February 5-15. Kings blanket, Padre, and early pollenizer varieties open first.

Central San Joaquin Valley (Fresno, Madera, Kings counties): Typically February 10-20. The main commercial production area.

Northern San Joaquin Valley (Stanislaus, San Joaquin, Merced counties): Typically February 15-25.

Sacramento Valley (Glenn, Tehama, Colusa, Butte counties): Typically February 20-March 5.

PollenOps almond bloom alerts provide district-specific alerts for each monitored area, firing 5-7 days before projected 10% bloom.

When to Place and When It's Too Late

Ideal placement: 5-7 days before 10% bloom. Colonies orient, begin early foraging on any open flowers, and reach peak activity by main bloom.

Acceptable placement: At 10-25% bloom. Less ideal but still effective. Early flowers missed.

Borderline: 25-40% bloom. Contract compliance risk. Grower may raise performance questions.

Late: 40%+ bloom. Significant portion of the receptive window missed. Expect grower concerns.

How to Handle Bees During Rain or Cold During Almond Bloom

Cold, wet weather during almond bloom is a real California occurrence. February rain is common in the Central Valley.

Bees don't fly effectively below about 55°F or in sustained rain. This means that even if hives are in place, they may not be foraging during poor weather windows.

What to do:

Don't move hives: Poorly weather-related performance is not a justification for contract breach. Your hives are where they're supposed to be. The weather is a shared risk.

Document weather conditions: If the grower later claims poor fruit set, weather documentation supports your position that the foraging environment, not your hive quality, was the limiting factor.

Maintain grower communication: During a cold spell, check in with your grower. Acknowledging difficult conditions and discussing them openly builds the relationship more than going silent and hoping they don't notice.

Check hive condition: Extended cold periods can stress colonies. Cold nights combined with insufficient food stores can cause cluster contraction and, in severe cases, starvation. Check hives during extended cold.

Part 4: Season Logistics

The Almond Season Truck Plan

For an operation running 20 contracts and 2,000 hives across the Valley, the truck plan is the operational document that makes everything else work.

A truck plan includes:

Each yard's delivery window (contract deadline + bloom timing)
The truck assigned to each delivery
Driver schedule and route sequence
Load capacity per truck
Staging yard locations for pre-positioning

Build the truck plan before January. Update it as bloom alerts fire and contract deadlines sharpen.

Managing the Fleet During Active Season

During peak delivery window (roughly 10 days in mid-February for most of the Valley):

Every truck should have a pre-built daily route
Drivers should know their first delivery and can chain remaining deliveries from there
Office contact (often you) maintains the dashboard showing which contracts have been delivered and which are outstanding

PollenOps move planning software generates optimized multi-stop delivery sequences that minimize total drive time across your fleet during the peak window.

Managing Pickup

Pickup is the end of the service period, not the end of your logistics complexity.

Pickup timing considerations:

Contract end date
Bloom stage at pickup (most contracts specify removal at or after petal fall)
Your truck availability
Where hives go after pickup (your next contract, home yard, summer honey location)

Growers have varying preferences for pickup timing. Some want bees out immediately after bloom ends to avoid conflicts with orchard floor management. Others are flexible. Clarify pickup window with each grower when you negotiate the contract.

Part 5: Documentation and Payment

The Documentation Package

For each almond placement, your complete documentation should include:

Signed contract
Pre-move strength assessment report
GPS delivery record with timestamp
County registration confirmation (California)
Health certificate (for out-of-state hives)
Grower arrival notification sent within 2 hours of delivery
GPS pickup record at service end
Invoice referencing all delivery data

Invoice Timing

Most California almond contracts have payment triggers tied to delivery milestones. Invoice the deposit component immediately upon delivery. Invoice the balance when the service period ends.

For a 50-contract almond season, managing 50 invoice cycles requires discipline. PollenOps invoicing auto-generates invoices from your GPS delivery records, pulling hive count, delivery date, and per-hive rate from the contract record. You review and send; you're not composing each invoice from scratch.

Frequently Asked Questions

How early should I start preparing for California almond season?

Colony preparation starts in August with varroa management. Business preparation, including contract negotiation, county registration, health certificate procurement, and truck plan development, starts in October-November. By January, your operational plan should be finalized and your colonies should be on trajectory to meet spring strength requirements. February delivery executes a pre-built plan, not a plan you're still developing.

What strength standards do California almond growers require?

Most commercial contracts specify 6 frames of bees minimum. Premium contracts and larger handlers often require 7-8 frames with documentation from a pre-move assessment. The California Almond Board references 8 frames as a "strong" colony standard. Contracts should specify the minimum and the documentation required. If your contract doesn't specify, assume 6 frames is the expected floor and document accordingly.

How do I handle bees during rain or cold during almond bloom?

Leave hives in place; weather-related reduced foraging is a shared agricultural risk, not a contract breach. Document weather conditions during extended cold or rain events, both as a record of what happened and as potential evidence if fruit set issues are later attributed to pollination performance. Maintain grower communication during difficult weather periods. Check hive condition during extended cold to ensure colonies have adequate food stores.

How early should almond pollination contracts be negotiated?

Large almond growers and broker networks begin securing hive commitments in July and August for the following February season. Written contracts are typically signed October through November. Operators who do not have signed agreements by December are working from a weak position since most quality hive inventory is already committed. Start grower outreach in mid-summer and target signed agreements before Thanksgiving.

What documentation is required for hive delivery to California almonds?

California requires a Certificate of Health for out-of-state colonies, issued by the origin state's apiary inspection program within 30 days of entry. The certificate must certify freedom from American foulbrood, European foulbrood, and Varroa destructor below treatment threshold. Some states require small hive beetle freedom for California entry. In addition, many growers now expect documentation of pre-delivery mite counts confirming colonies are below threshold.

What happens to hives after almond season ends in late March?

Post-almond options include moving north for Pacific Northwest cherry or apple pollination in April-May, routing to Michigan or Maine blueberries in May-July, transitioning to summer honey yards in North Dakota or Montana, or staying in California for splits and rebuilding. The right choice depends on hive strength coming out of almonds and downstream contract commitments. Operators who plan their full-year circuit in advance can optimize both pollination revenue and honey production.

Sources

USDA Agricultural Research Service
Bee Informed Partnership
American Beekeeping Federation (ABF)
Almond Board of California
University of California Cooperative Extension

Get Started with PollenOps

Almond season is the revenue event that defines the commercial beekeeping year, and the details -- contract terms, delivery timing, hive strength documentation, and invoicing -- determine whether the season is profitable. PollenOps manages the full almond contract lifecycle from quote to final payment, with yard tracking, crew scheduling, and grower communication built in. See how it works for operations from 200 to 5,000 hives.