(File photo/ farmnewsNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Beekeepers

Bee bandits strike Saskatchewan farm

May 17, 2019 | 3:24 PM

The equivalent of a semi-load of honey was stolen from a farm in northeast saskatchewan, according to the beekeeper who runs the operation.

Derek Moyen farms north of Zenon Park and said losing 148 bee hives comes at the worst possible time, given that the hives were going to help cover his winter losses. Moyen added he was certain a fellow bee keeper was responsible.

“They had a truck and a fork lift and like I know the fork lift tracks, so I could tell you the fork lift is very specific to a beekeeper,” he said.

The hives have an estimated value of $60,000. Moyen, a third-generation beekeeper, said he had never heard of any similar type thefts happening in Saskatchewan, but added the price of honey is very poor right now.

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“The price of honey is bad so beekeepers have no money, so I’m guessing if you need bees, you turn around and steal them,” he said.

According to the RCMP, the theft happened sometime around 4 p.m. on May 10 and 11 a.m. on May 13. Moyen said he was in the process of talking to his insurance provider to see if he was covered for the losses.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell