By Lynae Ovinge, M.Sc. Tech Transfer Program Lead. Updated July 2023. Did you know there have been lawsuits about poor quality bee feed? I recently watched Dr. Rob Currie’s presentation to the Manitoba Beekeepers Association on “The Importance of Quality Feed for Bees” which is available at www.manitobabee.org. I learned that in 1995 some “off-spec”...
By Renata Borba and Emily Olson There are 18 known viruses that afflict honey bees. In strong healthy colonies, viruses at low levels typically do not cause major problems. However, when combined with co-stressors such as low access to adequate food sources, environmental conditions, or other diseases/pests, the effects are exacerbated and can lead to...
On April 1st, the Alberta Tech Transfer Program’s Hive-Side Chat webinar hosted a timely and informative presentation, “Understanding Bee Nutrition”, by Dr. Priyadarshini Chakrabarti Basu, a Research Associate at the Oregon State University Honey Bee lab. The following article is a brief summary of key points from Dr. Chakrabarti’s presentation. Complete nutrition is crucial for...
By Jeff Kearns and Renata Borba When Alberta beekeepers need to re-queen a colony in early spring their options are limited. Breeding local queens at this time of year, while it may be technically possible given the right conditions, is not feasible, especially on a large scale. The only reliable option available to beekeepers is...