Wrapping up the series on spring management and an outlook on the 2025 beekeeping season across Atlantic Canada, this week’s blog will discuss early beekeeping trends in Newfoundland and Labrador. Read this week’s blog to learn the highlights of how NL colonies faired through winter, and how colonies are building up across the province this spring.
2025 season outlook – NL
Across Newfoundland and Labrador beekeepers are
reporting low winter loss and average spring build up. It is still early in the
season to confirm the province’s average winter loss, and an official report
will be provided later in the season from the Canadian Association of
Professional Apiculturists (CAPA) and from the Newfoundland provincial apiarist,
but, so far, the province has no concerns of above average loss this season. Newfoundland’s
beekeeping season is typically a few weeks behind the rest of the Atlantic
provinces, and that seems to be the trend for 2025 as well. Earlier in the
spring there was a series of warmer days, but then the temperatures regressed,
and temperatures are still not consistently above 10◦C. Other
Atlantic regions have also been experiencing cooler spring temperatures.
That being said, across the province, bees are bringing
in pollen from a variety of floral sources including coltsfoot, crocus,
hyacinth and muscari. Additionally, hives have come out of winter with good
food stores.
Beekeepers in Newfoundland and Labrador have less
pressure to have hives build up quickly in the spring as most beekeepers
involved with pollination services send their bees to cranberries (early to
mid-summer) rather than wild blueberries like the Maritime provinces (mid to
late-May).
So far, reports are indicating that the Newfoundland
and Labrador beekeeping industry is off to a good start for the 2025 season. A
reminder that the Newfoundland and Labrador Beekeeping Association is hosting
their annual general meeting and a workshop on May 30 to June 1 at the Royal
Canadian Legion, Pleasantville, St John's, NL. Visit the following link to
register: https://www.nlbeekeeping.com/.
Across the Atlantic region beekeepers are experiencing
variable winter loss this season, and varying degrees of spring dwindle. Some
individual beekeepers are reporting nearly 100% loss of colonies where many
others are reporting manageable winter loss.
That being said, the global beekeeping industry is
concerned about beekeeping losses reported from the United States. American
beekeepers report losing 1.6 million honey bee colonies between June 2024 and
March 2025. Commercial beekeepers in the US report losing 62% of their
colonies, and hobbyist and sideliner beekeepers report losing 51% and 54%,
respectively. There is still no official report to indicate the top reasons for
record breaking winter loss across the country.
Overall, the situation in the US has made it evident
that all beekeepers must be vigilant in monitoring the health of their colonies
and adequately preparing them for winter each season. The ATTTA team is always
willing to assist beekeepers with pest and disease testing, and we encourage
beekeepers to reach out about the testing available. Additionally, for any questions regarding spring
management and pest/disease monitoring and treatment please reach out to the
ATTTA team. We wish all Atlantic beekeepers a prosperous summer of beekeeping
as we enter the next stage of our beekeeping season.
Connecting with ATTTA Specialists
If you’d like to connect with ATTTA specialists or learn more about our program, you can:
visit our website at https://www.perennia.ca/portfolio-items/honey-bees/
Email attta@perennia.ca