By Jean-Paul MacDonald
Farms.com
Canada's Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay and Saskatchewan's Agriculture Minister David Marit announced a $1 million support fund for commercial beekeepers affected by substantial colony losses in 2022. The AgriRecovery program, responding to over 30% honeybee colony losses due to dry conditions, colder winters, and increased varroa mite activity, aims to assist impacted beekeepers in Saskatchewan.
MacAulay stressed bees' crucial role in pollinating crops, highlighting the significance of preserving the honeybee sector. The aid intends to alleviate challenges faced by the beekeeping industry.
“Bees play a vital role in pollinating so many of our crops and are integral to the success of our Canadian agricultural system,” said MacAulay. “We want to ensure this industry remains strong, and this funding through AgriRecovery will help offset some of the challenges the honey bee sector in Saskatchewan has faced recently.”
Minister Marit underlined commercial beekeepers' significance, contributing to about one-fifth of Canada's honey production and playing a pivotal role in pollinating crops. The support fund, covering up to 70% of costs for replacing lost stock and colonies, aims to restore commercial production efficiently.
"Commercial beekeeping operations have a critical role in our ecosystem and are also integral to Saskatchewan's agriculture industry, pollinating crops while being responsible for roughly one-fifth of Canada's honey production," Marit said. "This assistance covers up to 70 per cent of the costs related to replacing lost stock and colonies and is the most efficient option for helping restore commercial production."
Saskatchewan is home to nearly 100,000 colonies, annually producing nearly 20 million pounds of honey. Nathan Wendell, President of the Saskatchewan Beekeepers Development Commission, expressed gratitude for the aid, emphasizing bees' vital role beyond economic contributions in maintaining balanced ecosystems.
"Beyond their obvious economic contributions through honey production and crop pollination, bees have a unique natural role as the unsung heroes of not only the agriculture industry but the ecosystems in which we live and work," Saskatchewan Beekeepers Development Commission President Nathan Wendell said. "This support is greatly appreciated, and will assist impacted provincial beekeepers as they continue to rebuild their operations, restore the viability of their colonies and resume their important contributions to a balanced and thriving environment."
AgriRecovery, a federal-provincial disaster relief initiative, collaboratively supports agricultural producers in overcoming disaster-induced challenges. The cost-shared AgriRecovery program stands as a significant step in aiding beekeepers, acknowledging their crucial role in sustaining agriculture and ecological balance.