The buzz about honey bees this year is that their colonies might be stretched too thin with an increase in demand for their pollinating skills.

Eric Mussen, extension apiculturist of the University of California, Davis of Entomology said there might not be enough honey bees to pollinate this year's crop of 800,000 acres of almonds statewide.

Phil Hofland, owner of Noble Apiaries between Dixon and Vacaville, said the demand for bee hives is higher than ever with more almond orchards popping up in the area. He said he doesn't blame the farmers for trying to capitalize on the increase in sale prices for almonds.

Hofland continues to work with other "bee guys" and researchers to breed disease-resistant bees or at least make them less susceptible to diseases and pests that are detrimental to their health, which in turn has an effect on crop yield for farmers.

He added that diseases aren't the only detriment to California's bee population. Hofland, who owns a relatively small operation, said bee owners from out of state are having a hard time crossing the California border with the little buzzers.

He said inspections and fees have bumped up the prices on shipment quite a bit.

Solano County Farm Bureau President Derrick Lum said the recent weather has been tricky.

He said he doesn't plant his sunflower seeds until the end of March and the beginning of April, but the warmer weather feels like it should be sooner.

Lum said he uses the bees in the summer, but right now he's hoping for rain.

Solano County Agricultural Commissioner Jim Allan said it's probably too soon to tell if the honey bee population is lacking in the area.

He said the state goes through a pollination cycle for the stone fruit and almond bloom moving up from Bakersfield to Northern California.

Allan explained that there are more orchards to pollinate in the South Valley than the north part of the state so the demand for honey bees drops when it's time to pollinate locally.

He confirmed that there has been an increase in almond planting.

"We're seeing more orchards than ever before and they absolutely need the bees for pollinating," Allan said, and added that the cost for pollinating has increased significantly.

He added that having a few bee production companies in the county is a huge plus.





The Associated Press contributed to this report.