(Rehaluk Honey/Facebook)

By Derek Craddock

BEES

‘It’s gonna be a tough year’: Local beekeepers face loss of income due to lack of bees

Apr 28, 2022 | 11:00 AM

Many local beekeepers are bracing for impact in the wake of a higher-than-normal mortality rate for honeybees.

According to the Saskatchewan Beekeepers Development Commission, a viral mite known as Varroa could kill up to 30 per cent of all colonies in the province. The mite only reproduces in honeybee populations and an infestation could destroy entire colonies.

But it’s not just our province facing this destructive parasite.

“Alberta is 70 to 90 per cent dead, Ontario is the same, Manitoba is looking at 60 to 70 per cent from what I’ve been hearing. Around here, there’s guys that are 90 per cent, there’s guys that are 60 to 70 per cent as loss,” said Trevor Rehaluk, owner of Rehaluk Honey in Nipawin.

Rehaluk, like many Saskatchewan beekeepers, is worried about what the coming season will bring.

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“We’re looking right now at a 50 to 60 per cent loss,” he said. “This year we just don’t have enough, and nobody does.”

“We’re expecting a significant decrease in productivity and therefore a decrease in income,” added Murray Hannigan with Hannigan Honey Farm in Shellbrook.

Beekeepers like Hannigan and Rehaluk are not alone as many in Saskatchewan are coming to grips with the harsh reality that they will lose vast amounts of income because of the lack of bees.

“We’re hearing from quite a few beekeepers that when they’re opening up their hives, they’re finding more mortality than normal and some cases quite a bit more,” said Provincial Specialist in Apiculture, Geoff Wilson who is based in Prince Albert.

It’s not only beekeepers that will be feeling the pinch as no bees will cause problems for farmers and ultimately the consumer.

“The price of bees has gone through the roof. The price of honey is as high as we’ve ever seen it in history (and) it’s only gonna go higher now,” said Rehaluk. “There’s no bees so there’s going to be nothing for pollination. It’s gonna be hard on the crops. No bees, no pollen, no food.”

“In our operation, we are normally producing in excess of a million pounds of honey. This year, I think we’re already sort of setting our sights that it’s gonna be two-thirds of that and that’s assuming that everything improves from here,” added Hannigan, who pointed out it’s not just the Varroa mites that have hurt his colonies.

A severe winter for much of the province and a cooler than normal start to the spring are also contributing to the lack of bees for many farmers.

In the past, many farmers have purchased bees from across the world but, according to Rehaluk, just one planeload came to Saskatchewan from Australia and New Zealand.

This isn’t the first time these beekeepers have dealt with the high mortality of honeybees, as a similar shortage took place just a few years ago. However, Rehaluk pointed out there was still replacement stock available for bees. Now, that’s not the case.

Wilson said there are some options available to beekeepers to help them weather the storm.

“Their crop insurance has a program to insure their bees in the fall and basically if they exceed mortality at a separate you can get coverage so there’s some of those programs already in place and now, we’re trying to help beekeepers understand what’s going on so they can get back up and running and hopefully deal with the problems in the future.”

But Rehaluk, Hannigan, and other beekeepers say that insurance coverage barely scratches the surface.

“A cheque two to three months from now is no good when you need bees now to make a living, to make honey, to pollinate crops it’s gonna be a tough year.”

Despite the perceived loss of income and the possibility of cutting back staff in the summer, beekeepers are still doing the best they can to survive.

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derek.craddock@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @pa_craddock