When it comes to healthy crop production, pollination can be every bit as important as irrigation.
That’s especially true in the almond industry, where nut production relies heavily on honeybee pollination. The yearly migration of bee colonies into California’s almond orchards is one of the biggest pollution events on the globe — and according to the “Cost of Pollination” report from the USDA’s National Ag Statistics Service, prices are going up.
America’s commercial beekeepers have experienced significant losses in their colonies in recent years. When those colonies decline, the costs associated with maintaining a healthy colony can skyrocket, leaving growers on the hook to pay higher fees for pollinating their crops. That’s especially true for almond growers, who typically require two beehives to pollinate each acre during almond bloom.
In 2024, almond growers paid an average of $181 per bee colony. That number rose to $209 in 2025, marking an increase of 15 percent. The price of pollinating an acre of almonds also increased, jumping from $305 per acre to $310. Even so, pollination remains a highly valuable asset for California crops. According to aginfo.net, “the total value of pollination for almonds increased 5 percent. Almonds were the highest valued crop in the region. Overall, the total value of all pollination across Regions 6 and 7 reached 364 million dollars in 2025, up 3 percent from 2024.”
Meanwhile, we hope all our growers enjoyed a productive almond bloom! For help with your almond operation — whether you’re interested in irrigation system design, pesticide applications, or a pest management plan — please remember we’re just a phone call away.