Last week the Atlantic Tech Transfer Team for Apiculture had a series of meetings with beekeepers and wild blueberry growers in Charlottetown, PE and the surrounding area. These meetings provided a great opportunity to recap the 2025 beekeeping and pollination season, and to discuss future research plans and priorities of the ATTTA team. Read this week’s blog for an overview of the various meetings.
Review of Prince Edward Island Beekeeper and Wild Blueberry Meetings
Last week the Atlantic Tech Transfer Team for Apiculture had
several meetings with various stakeholders of the PEI beekeeping and wild
blueberry industries. ATTTA met with the PEI department of agriculture, the PEI
Wild Blueberry Growers’ Association and the PEI Beekeepers’ Association to
discuss research plans and priorities of ATTTA’s, and to learn more about PEI’s
beekeeping and wild blueberry pollination season. In addition to meeting with
industry representatives, ATTTA also met with any individual PEI beekeeper who
expressed interest in sitting down with ATTTA one-on-one to discuss their own
beekeeping interests, concerns and goals.
When discussing ATTTA’s research, one of the main projects
of interest to all Maritime beekeepers, PEI included, is ATTTA’s Varroa mite
work. ATTTA has one more season left of their regional Varroa mite survey and
amitraz efficacy study, but the team is already discussing future honey bee
health research, and, given the impact this pest has on the industry, research
will continue to prioritize Varroa mite management.
ATTTA also discussed with industry past wild blueberry
pollination work and the various research interests of island growers, such as the
use of non-apis pollinators, importance and abundance of native pollinators on
the island, and the use of weather stations and growing degree day models to
improve pollination efficiency. ATTTA will continue to consult with all
Maritime wild blueberry associations and government representatives when
designing future pollination research projects.
Some of the topics discussed with individual beekeepers
included wax moth management, overwintering preparation, splitting colonies, queen
availability and queen production. Wax moth continues to be a concern for many
island beekeepers. To help provide information on wax moth biology, prevention,
and management of infestations, ATTTA published a fact sheet which can be found
on the ATTta website: https://www.perennia.ca/portfolio-items/honey-bees/.
The ATTTA team will also be presenting some information on wax moth management
at upcoming PEI beekeeping events.
Overall, island beekeepers indicate having a good 2025
beekeeping season. Last winter, the province experienced a winter loss of 22.9%
which is below their provincial average and a significant improvement from the
previous winter (2023-2024) at 61.3%. An estimated 4,675 hives, supplied by
approximately 25 to 30 beekeepers, went to pollinate wild blueberries, and an
additional 3,472 hives were imported into the province during the pollination
period. A full report regarding the 2025 beekeeping season, including estimated
honey production for the province, will be provided by the provincial
apiculturist at the upcoming annual general meeting for the PEI Beekeepers’
Association.
The PEI Beekeepers’ Association annual general meeting will
be held on February 28th at the Charlottetown Library Learning
Centre (97 Queen St Dominion Building), and all island beekeepers are
encouraged to attend to learn about industry happenings and gain insight to new
research happening within the beekeeping industry. Another event of interest to
PEI beekeepers is an upcoming workshop organized by the PEI Beekeepers’
Association and ATTTA, which will be taking place on April 24th and
25th at the Farm Centre (420 University Ave, Charlottetown).
Thank you to all beekeepers, wild blueberry growers and
industry representatives who took the time to met with our team last week.
ATTTA is looking forward to the mentioned upcoming events, and for another
great beekeeping season collaborating with island beekeepers and growers.
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