[tptacek]

But this isn't unknowable. The prices for pollination are basically public, as are the prices for precursors of bee colonies. If beekeeping is getting untenably expensive, that should be reflected in both those prices. Why isn't it?

[lostlogin]

Here in NZ, Manuka honey. It commands a serious price and is what everyone is after. Last season bordered on disastrous due to the weather but the aim of the big players is to get Manuka. If you haven't heard of it I'm not surprised - it's a dark, not particularly nice honey that has some pretty amazing anti-bacterial properties. It's being used in all sorts of things, cosmetics, medications, dressings, foods etc.

[tptacek]

If CCD is causing a real economic problem in the US, we should see its impact in the prices of pollination services and in the cost of colony precursors. Do we?

[lostlogin]

Good question. We see it here in the price of hives and nuc colonies. It's gone up as they take more effort to build and maintain.