This past week the Atlantic Tech Transfer Team for Apiculture had the pleasure of meeting with various beekeepers and blueberry growers on Prince Edward Island, as well as other industry stakeholders. The team discussed a wide range of topics, from ATTTA's research and training opportunities to general discussions on beekeeping practices on PE. After ATTTA’s time with PE beekeepers this past week, some highlights, opportunities and challenges of the province’s beekeeping industry are summarized in this week’s blog.
PE Beekeeping Season Update 2024
The Maritime
provinces share many similarities when it comes to beekeeping practices and the
challenges within the industry. Each Maritime province deals with over-wintering,
changing climate, and a wide range of pests and diseases. That being said, each
year differences occur between provinces in honey crop, demand and supply for
pollination units, winter loss and prevalence of pests and diseases.
This past
winter, PE experienced their highest winter loss reported by the Canadian
Association of Professional Apiculturists (CAPA), since reporting in 2007, at
65.3% loss. The percent loss of colonies was reported in the CAPA preliminary
report, and the final report is expected in the coming months. Within the final
report, insight will be provided from individual beekeepers as to what they
determined to be the reason for colonies not surviving the winter. When
speaking with beekeepers across the island, it was obvious that there was high
variability in winter loss numbers for 2023 – 24. Some individual beekeepers had manageable
winter losses (<30%) in spite of the overall record high. Varroa mite management and winter
preparedness were expressed as possible contributing factors to the high losses
last winter.
Varroa mites
remain a top reason for colony loss across the nation each year. This past
summer ATTTA conducted a regional Varroa mite survey in which five PE commercial
beekeepers participated. The samples processed from PE had mite levels ranging
from 0-1%, which is below the economic threshold for treatment at all time
points throughout the season, and the suggestion from this small sample is that
beekeepers on PE are managing mite levels well. The ATTTA team is working with
PE beekeepers to have more representation from the province in the 2025
regional survey.
Other pests
and diseases reported from PE beekeepers during the 2024 season include wax
moth, nosema (Vairimorpha) and chalkbrood. Beekeepers said that each of
the mentioned pests and diseases were still manageable with current practices
and treatments available. The Tech
Transfer Team is preparing some additional extension materials for PE
beekeepers to help with wax moth, as this was stated as a particular problem on
the Island. Although not an immediate threat to PE, there was a desire
expressed for general information and awareness of the Tropilaelaps mite by the
Island’s beekeepers.
Properly
preparing hives for winter is always important for Maritime beekeepers. Many PE
beekeepers were keen to discuss winter protection of hives, and the importance
of both insulation and ventilation to help manage high moisture levels
throughout the winter. Given the high humidity levels in the Maritimes,
providing upper ventilation to a hive provides an escape for humid warm air
generated from the cluster. Upper ventilation helps prevent the warm air from
condensating at the top of the hive and dripping onto the cluster.
Beekeepers
on PE report that there was good demand for hives for wild blueberry pollination
for the 2024 season. It seems any beekeeper who wanted to rent out their hives
had little or no issue making arrangements with blueberry growers. Some of the
demand for pollination is being met through importing bumble bee quads and the
expectation is the use of non-Apis pollinators will increase for 2025.
Additionally, growers and beekeepers report that the population of native
pollinators on PE continues to provide significant pollination for wild
blueberries. There is government support through provincial programs in place
for beekeepers who send hives to pollination. These programs support the
sustainable increase of local honey bee colonies that are available for
pollination through strategic industry initiatives including investment in
infrastructure.
Prince Edward Island beekeepers are continually advancing as an industry. Each year the industry works to increase pollination on PE, and overall the industry is working to support their sustainability as a commodity. For updates on the beekeeping industry in other Atlantic provinces continue to read the weekly What’s the Buzz with ATTTA blog posts!
Connecting with ATTTA Specialists