Library · Bees & pollinators
Pollination Service.
Pollination Service Calculator
Honeybee hives per acre by crop. Plus rental costs, native bee alternatives, and pollination economics.
Hives per acre — full reference
| Crop | Hives/acre (low end) | Hives/acre (high end) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Almond | 2 | 3 | Highest demand crop in US; February bloom; CA Central Valley |
| Apple | 1 | 2 | Mason bees often more effective |
| Pear | 1 | 2 | Mediocre nectar; bees less attracted |
| Cherry (sweet) | 2 | 3 | Cross-pollination critical |
| Cherry (tart) | 0.5 | 1 | Self-fertile; less demand |
| Peach / nectarine | 0.5 | 1 | Self-fertile but bears better with bees |
| Blueberry | 3 | 5 | Bumble bees better than honeybees; native pollinators valuable |
| Cranberry | 2 | 4 | Bumble bees + honeybees together best |
| Strawberry | 1 | 2.5 | Field crop; protected day-neutral less needed |
| Raspberry / blackberry | 1 | 2 | Native bumble bees often sufficient |
| Cucumber (field) | 1 | 3 | Multiple bee visits per flower needed for shape |
| Watermelon | 1 | 2.5 | Each fruit needs 8-12 bee visits to set fully |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | 1 | 2 | Hybrid varieties may need more |
| Squash / pumpkin | 0.5 | 1.5 | Squash bees (native) often most effective; rental optional |
| Canola | 0.5 | 1 | High nectar; honey crop; pollination bonus is yield |
| Sunflower (seed) | 1 | 3 | Hybrid varieties most pollinator-dependent |
| Alfalfa (seed) | 3 | 10 | Leafcutter bees more efficient; honeybees secondary |
| Clover (seed) | 1 | 3 | Many native bees + honeybees |
Rental rates by region (US)
| Crop / region | Rate per hive | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Almond (CA) | $200-225 | Highest in US; many beekeepers truck from across country |
| Apple | $60-110 | Pacific NW highest; eastern US lowest |
| Pear / Stone fruit | $60-100 | |
| Blueberry (high-bush) | $70-130 | Northeast / Pacific NW highest |
| Cranberry | $70-100 | WI, MA, NJ, OR |
| Cucumber, melons, squash | $50-80 | |
| Sunflower, canola | $25-50 | Often beekeeper pays farmer for placement |
| Alfalfa seed | $60-100 |
2024-2025 rates. Premium for strong, treated, certified disease-free hives. Find via state apiarist or commercial pollination broker.
Native bee alternatives
| Native bee | Best for | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Mason bee (Osmia lignaria, blue orchard bee) | Apple, pear, cherry, plum — orchard pollination | ~$0.50-1 per cocoon (need 250-500/acre); reuse from year to year |
| Leafcutter bee (Megachile rotundata) | Alfalfa seed, blueberry | Established commercial industry; cell sales by quantity |
| Bumble bee (commercial colony) | Greenhouse tomato, strawberry, blueberry | ~$80-130/colony; lasts 6-10 weeks |
| Wild native bees | Most crops near unmanaged habitat | Free; require native flower habitat year-round; can sustain pollination at small farm scale |
Pollinator strip ROI
Establishing 5-10% of farm in native pollinator habitat:
- Often increases fruit set 10-30% in adjacent crop areas
- Provides backup pollination if rental hives delayed or weak
- Reduces need for rental hive count by ~30-50% in some studies
- Eligible for USDA cost-share (CCRP CP-42)
- Adds beneficial insect habitat for IPM benefits
For most small/medium farms with mixed pollinator-dependent crops, establishing pollinator habitat is more cost-effective than scaling rental hive demand.
Free under CC BY 4.0. Cite as "OAT Pollination Service Calculator (openagriculturetechnology.com)". Hives-per-acre data from USDA-NASS, university extension, and commercial pollination industry sources.