Daily Network News

More News →

Tag Archives Bees

Since 1969, honeybee lifespan in the U.S. has dropped from a median of 34 days to just 18 days.
Comment, Op/Ed

Comment: Honeybee lifespan could be half what it was 50 years ago: study

A number of factors are likely contributing to this perceived decline

By
A new paper shows how the lifespan of the adult honeybee appears to have shrunk by nearly 50 per cent in the past 50 years.  The European Red List of Bees suggests nearly one in 10 species of wild bees are facing extinction. Imagine how we would react if human lifespans halved. The equivalent would
The province’s apiarist has heard production numbers as low as 25 pounds of honey per colony and as high as 290 for beekeepers with more than 50 colonies.
News

Manitoba honey harvest falls short

Last winter’s bee losses come due in honey counts

By
Last winter gave another sting to the beekeeping sector. Honey yield data in the annual fall survey indicates production was down in 2022, which the sector has blamed on severe winter stock losses. Why it matters: Honey prices remain high but winter losses reported early in 2022 left an unfortunate legacy when it comes to
Rusty patch bumblebees are native bees that are now listed as an endangered species.  
photo: USGS Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab/Creative Commons
Livestock, News, Other livestock

Another bad season for bees

Experts explore the reasons for bee population declines -- and ways to mitigate the problem

By
Beekeepers reported high losses over the winter and experts are exploring the reasons and seeking ways to mitigate future colony declines. Ian Steppler, president of the Manitoba Beekeepers Association, said Manitoba’s losses this year are extremely high. “We’re nearly at a 60 per cent loss right across Manitoba right now, the highest loss in Canada
“Our intent in the long term is to export a higher volume of our members’ honey as value-added, packed honey to be sold to retailers and distributors, so that we can continue to generate competitive returns for our members.” – Guy Chartier.
News

Expanding markets for Manitoba honey

Upgrades slated to Manitoba honey production and packaging facilities

By
After a challenging several months for Manitoba’s beekeepers, it was likely encouraging to hear some good news percolate to the surface. The Manitoba Cooperative Honey Producers Limited (MCHP) is edging a step closer to the upgrade and modernization of its processing and packaging facilities – a move expected to result in expanded markets and new
Outside of varroa mite stress in 2021, the provincial apiarist also noted reports of feed problems in some hives.
Livestock, News

Drought sets stage on bee losses, mite issues

The 2021 drought is the unwanted gift that keeps giving

By
Last year’s drought is a likely suspect in Manitoba’s high honeybee losses, and for multiple reasons, apiary experts say. Ian Steppler, chair of the Manitoba Beekeepers’ Association (MBA), says diagnostics are ongoing, but conditions last year — which saw little rain until mid- to late summer, followed by abnormal growth and blooming in fall —
bees
News

Beekeepers to take second look at U.S. bees amid heavy loss

Many hives are still in the snow, but early loss counts are alarming

By
Manitoba’s beekeepers will be revisiting their decision to not push for a return of bulk bee shipments from the U.S. Ian Steppler, chair of the Manitoba Beekeepers’ Association, said they will be holding a special meeting on the topic April 23. “All producers in Manitoba are divided on this issue,” he said. Why it matters:
Concerns over importing pests like varroa mite have kept Manitoba beekeepers from endorsing U.S. imports.
News

VIDEO: Beekeepers opt for closed border on U.S. bulk bees

Bulk bee imports from the U.S. have been closed for decades, and Manitoba’s beekeepers say they would like it to stay that way

By
Manitoba’s beekeeping sector won’t be endorsing any push to reopen the U.S. border to American bulk bee shipments. In late February, a majority of members at the Manitoba Beekeepers’ Association (MBA) annual meeting shot down a resolution to support the Canadian Honey Council, should the national industry group ever lobby the federal government to allow
Pollinators key to canola crops’ success
Crops, Oilseeds

Pollinators key to canola crops’ success

Your busy little unpaid employees make it all possible

By
Canola producers often partner with beekeepers because the bees are an effective way to pollinate canola blossoms and increase the seed production. The bees collect the pollen as a protein-rich food and sip nectar to make honey, a handy way to store energy. Making pollen and nectar is a lot of work for the plant
Funding boosts beekeeping extension
Farmit Manitoba

Funding boosts beekeeping extension

The Manitoba Beekeepers’ Association extension and research program has another $20,000 for the coming year

By
The Manitoba Beekeepers’ Association (MBA) hopes a jolt of funding will help bolster research and extension efforts. The Manitoba Crop Alliance (MCA), which blends commodity groups for wheat and barley, flax, sunflowers, corn and winter cereals, announced in January that it would be providing $10,000 for the MBA’s Knowledge Research Transfer Program in the coming
“The consensus is that general efficacy, countable efficacy of that product — Apivar — is quite variable.” – Rhéal Lafrenière.
News, Other, Other livestock

Varroa mite protection product for bees losing its punch

Producers may need multiple prongs of varroa mite control with some of their go-to solutions starting to lose potency

By
Beekeepers will have to watch their varroa mite levels more closely and be prepared to look past Apivar for other control measures, provincial apiarist Rhéal Lafrenière says. Why it matters: Parasitic varroa mites feed on both adult bees and developing brood, causing weak and malformed bees, high mortality and, associated with that, winter losses due

AgCanadaTV

AGCanadaTV: In case you missed it; your national ag news recap for Sept. 5, 2025

Sponsored By:
More Videos →

Cyber-Savvy Farmer

Glacier Farmmedia Podcast

Latest Market News

More Market News →