Manitoba’s beekeepers say they saw less winterkill this year, despite frigid temperatures.

Beekeepers dodge winter loss woes

Initial reports hint at good winter survival for Manitoba’s bees

Manitoba’s frigid start to 2019 did little to phase the honey industry. The Manitoba Beekeepers Association says most of its members reported good winter survival rates, with the exception of some parts of the Interlake. Why it matters: Manitoba’s honey sector took a hit on winter survival last year, but this year’s numbers look more

“PMRA’s re-evaluation decision confirms that in the vast majority of cases, neonics can be used effectively by farmers without unnecessary risk to pollinators.” – Pierre Petelle, CropLife Canada

No new major neonic restrictions: Health Canada

Existing restrictions remain, but they won’t be expanded for the foreseeable future

No new changes are coming to the use of neonicotinoids in Canada. There will be no new significant restrictions beyond those announced last year, Health Canada said April 10 in its final decision on its review of clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiameth­oxam. The department said it will proceed with cancelling some uses of the products and


(Photo courtesy Canola Council of Canada)

Neonic-treated canola not an ‘unacceptable risk’ for pollinators

Already facing federally mandated phase-outs from many major on-farm uses in Canada over risks to aquatic insects, neonicotinoids aren’t expected to pose “unacceptable risks” to pollinators when used on canola seed or hothouse vegetables in the meantime. Health Canada said as much Thursday as it released its final re-evaluation decisions for three neonic pesticides —

There’s a program to assist commercial Manitoba Beekeepers improve biosecurity and reduce bee disease, Manitoba Agriculture’s Rheal Lafreniere told honey producers June 16 during an event at Steppler Farms near Deerwood.

Biosecurity, disease reduction program for commercial Manitoba beekeepers

This aid under the Ag Action Manitoba Program for Farmers might be short lived

It may be a case of use it or lose it for Manitoba’s beekeepers. They’re being urged to apply now for help under a cost-sharing program that’s aimed at commercial beekeepers trying to control diseases which may only be available this year. “There is a maximum of $3,500 in the program,” Rheal Lafreniere, Manitoba Agriculture’s


VIDEO: Bees “bee-have” to form bee beard

VIDEO: Bees “bee-have” to form bee beard

Ian Steppler, who runs the honey production part of Steppler Farms, ‘grew’ a bee beard with the help of his assistant, Carrie Martindale, to the delight of 117 beekeepers attending an event put on in co-operation with the Manitoba Beekeepers Association. Video footage recorded June 16, 2018 at Steppler Farms, near Deerwood, Man. Video editing

(iStock/Getty Images)

EU nations back ban on all outdoor neonic use

Brussels | Reuters — European Union countries backed a proposal on Friday to ban all use outdoors of insecticides known as neonicotinoids that studies have shown can harm bees. The ban, championed by environmental activists, covers the use of three active substances — imidacloprid, developed by Bayer CropScience; clothianidin, developed by Takeda Chemical Industries and


Health Canada proposes some neonic restrictions

Health Canada is proposing some restrictions on the use of three neonic pesticides for horticultural production but they would still be registered for use on field crops such as corn and soybeans. Meanwhile the department will continue working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the State of California on the impact of the pesticides

Treated corn seed. (Syngenta.com)

Two neonics set for three-year extensions on registration

Health Canada’s pesticide regulator proposes to allow continued registration for two members of the neonicotinoid family of pesticides, both of which are under heavy scrutiny for their effects on bees and other pollinators. The Pest Management Regulatory Agency on Tuesday issued proposed decisions on clothianidin and thiamethoxam that would extend the products’ existing conditional registrations


Bees and other beneficial insects could some day benefit from new pyrethroid pesticide research.

Spare the bees

New research may make for better-targeted pesticides that do their job but don’t hurt beneficial insects

Pyrethroid pesticides could be modified with a few molecular tweaks to eliminate pests while preserving beneficial insects like bees. Those are the findings of researchers at Michigan State University’s entomology department in a study featured in the current issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. These pesticides target a protein known as the