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By Alice McFarlane

Bee Population

Bee mortality rates higher than average

May 29, 2020 | 3:12 PM

Winter survival rates for honey bees are below normal but the numbers vary by region.

Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture provincial apiculturist Geoff Wilson said average losses are estimated at 25 to 30 per cent which is higher than normal but there were also losses in the 70 to 80 per cent range.

“Northern areas did worse than southern areas. A lot of it was for how long bees were locked in this spring with the cold conditions. In the south they got out a little earlier. It stressed them in the north,” Wilson said.

The ministry is currently conducting a survey of beekeepers to assess any winterkill losses. Wilson said for a beekeeper who lost 70 per cent of their bees, it’s tough.

“It really hurts,” Wilson said. “It’s financially difficult to recover from that sort of loss. You have to go about getting new bees and replacing your stock some how.”

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It has also been very difficult to bring bees into the country with delays or lack of flights from countries where those bees are traditionally supplied. Luckily in Saskatchewan there are many progressive beekeepers who make nucleus colonies, which are considered next years replacement. Wilson said there is a lot of stock in the province that can be sold to other beekeepers.

Saskatchewan beekeepers also collaborate on other issues like temporary foreign workers. Wilson said a few of them were working together to get flights organized to make sure they had the staff they needed. He said it’s taken a lot of work to get trained workers in the province to bring in the honey crop.

“The Sask Beekeepers Development Commission has worked with the Canadian Honey Council and other provinces to make sure the labour comes in and we’re seeing quite a few workers are arriving,” Wilson said. “Some of these workers have been here nine or 10 years in some cases. They know exactly what they are doing and are very important for the bee industry.”

It has been an incredibly windy spring. Wilson said beekeepers are always hoping for ideal weather.

“Right now, what we would love is 20 Celsius weather, full sun, no wind, lots of dandelions and a good canola crop later on.”

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alice.mcfarlane@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @AliceMcF