Ontario Beekeepers’ Association News

The AGM will be an ONLINE Virtual Annual General Meeting for membership.Friday is open to OBA Members only. The meeting will start at 9am EST, for a half-day event.Attend Friday for just $25! (members only), Attend both days for $40 (option for members only)The business meeting will take place on Friday, along with some great presentations!The conference will continue on Saturday…

Varroa Mite Monitoring Survey is now live on the Ontario Animal Health Network Website. Why take part? The goal of the Varroa Mite Awareness Campaign 2021 is to increase knowledge of Varroa mite testing and treatment in Ontario and to gain information from all parts of the beekeeping sector about Varroa levels. Those who take part in the survey also have an…

Hosted by OSCIA through CAP (Canadian Agricultural Partnership) funding, beekeepers are invited to attend this free Bee Biosecurity Workshop to learn more about on-farm biosecurity best management practices and key areas of your farm to evaluate when developing a biosecurity plan as well as potential cost-share opportunities. Taking a workshop is a first step in creating a Biosecurity Plan for…

The Wellington County Beekeepers’ Association is generously coordinating the winter wrap program, with proceeds supporting the OBA Tech-Transfer Research Program. In 2007, Jim Coneybeare and Diane Krout of the Wellington County Beekeepers organized the manufacture of these wraps and have made them available to Ontario Beekeepers each year since then.    Order for 2021 are now being taken. The deadline for…

A comprehensive resource for beekeepers, and developed in partnership with OMAFRA and the OBA, with input from the University of Guelph Honey Bee Research Centre and Niagara College, Essential Practices for Beekeepers in Ontario outlines recommended practices to ensure healthy, productive managed honey bees in Ontario. View or download Essential Practices for Beekeepers in Ontario. This document is intended to instruct beekeepers…

 Recently, the Canadian Association of Professional Apiculturists (CAPA) released a preliminary report on the reported winterloss percentages across Canada. The report shows that Ontario, with early reported information, is showing a winterloss of 17%. British Columbia seems to have experienced higher losses with an initial report of 32% with the Canadian average currently sitting around 23%. See the Preliminary report on Honey Bee Wintering…

The Government of Ontario has moved ahead with increasing the compensation rate for AgriStability from 70 to 80 per cent on the provincial portion. The increased coverage is effective as of the 2020 growing season. The provincial increase to the compensation rate is in addition to the combined federal and provincial support announced on March 25 to remove the reference margin…

Best Management Practices (BMPs) for the honey bee industry are developed by different levels and divisions of government, various organizations, institutions and stakeholders. Content ranging from regulations for pest and disease treatment thresholds to management of colonies during pollination services are included. While in many cases these recommendations are readily available, their authors are varied and the publications are provided…

 The Governments of Canada and Ontario are launching a new targeted beekeeper intake to support and strengthen the health of managed honey bees and Ontario’s beekeeping sector. Under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (The Partnership) the new 50 per cent cost share intake opens on June 21, 2021 and will support beekeepers with 10 or more colonies registered with the Provincial Apiarist. Beekeepers…