“The entire time I’ve been beekeeping, I’ve never thought twice about sugar availability, other than just the price going up a little bit because of supply and demand.” – Ian Steppler, Manitoba Beekeepers Association.

‘We’ve always taken for granted that the sugar’s always been there’

Sugar shortage highlights beekeeper feed vulnerability

Beekeeping groups on the Prairies say it’s a good thing Western Canada’s sugar shortage didn’t happen a few months ago. The bees are now tucked away for the winter, but August and September are prime feeding seasons when beekeepers condition their colonies for winter and natural nectar sources are drying up. “We’ve always taken for granted that the

The honey sector wants the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to take another look at rules banning U.S. boxed-bee trade into Canada.

AgriRecovery announced for honey sector

Beekeepers who suffered heavy losses during winter 2021-22 have until Aug. 31 to apply

Manitoba’s beekeepers will be getting funds to rebuild after suffering devastating winter losses last year. An industry push for financial aid bore fruit June 20 when the province and federal government announced the Canada-Manitoba Bee Mortality Assistance Program, provided through AgriRecovery. The program has earmarked up to $7.5 million to ease rebuilding costs, according to

The issue of access to U.S. bees has been frustrating and divisive in Manitoba.

Time for another look at U.S. bees

Industry groups say it’s time to re-evaluate bee imports from the U.S.

Canadian beekeepers are calling on the federal government to re-examine the risks that have blocked U.S. packaged bees from Canada since the 1980s. Honeybee health decline and bee mortality took the stage at an April 26 meeting of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food. Representatives from the honey sector presented on


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.

Manitoba honey harvest falls short

Last winter’s bee losses come due in honey counts

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

Researchers struggle to quantify the healing properties of honey.

The use of honey in wound care of horses

Horse Health: The right kind of honey is key if you want to try this technique

Medicinal honey shows impressive results in combatting antibiotic resistance, improving patient welfare and economizing wound management for humans and companion animals. When the source of honey is well chosen, there are no mentionable side effects or contra-indications. Bees make honey from the nectar collected from flowers. Honey is roughly 80 per cent simple sugars like glucose and fructose and 20

“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.

Expanding markets for Manitoba honey

Upgrades slated to Manitoba honey production and packaging facilities

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


In the end, Manitoba beekeepers say a late-season flush of growth brought their season much closer to the average mark.

Weather turn bails out beekeepers

While honey yields are below average, it’s not the disaster many were expecting in July

The province’s beekeepers may well feel like they dodged a bullet, thanks to a surge of growth in August and September. Late-season rains helped bolster the 2021 honey harvest and have eased fears about the coming winter, according to Manitoba Beekeepers’ Association chair Ian Steppler. “The situation earlier in the summer seemed really dire and

Varroa mites feeding on honeybee pupae.

Bees hit with pesky symptoms

Atypical weather this year impacted pest management for beekeepers

While an extended season has been a boon for the honey sector, experts say it may have also played into the varroa mite issues that have plagued some operations. Ian Steppler, chair of the Manitoba Beekeepers’ Association, said producers reported higher mite counts this year, requiring treatment. Infestations of the parasite are associated with weak