Alberta bees are soaring. updating to test

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What you need to know: Labour Update

The ABC, in collaboration with Crystal Clear Communications, recently held a webinar on ‘What You Need to Know: Webinar for Agricultural Employers.‘ The webinar covered work permit supports from IRCC, the Agri-Food Immigration Pilot (AFIP), and What’s NEW, Express Entry for Ag + Recognized Employer Program details. Download the PowerPoint presentation HERE. View the recording...

New Risk Assessment

Summer 2022 CFIA invited the submission of new/current scientific information in regard to the health of and management of honey bee diseases and pests in the United States and Canada. The Commission in collaboration with US beekeeping organizations and the Canadian Beekeepers Federation prepared and submitted 16 peer reviewed scientific papers in regard to the...

What’s in your Sugar?

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”...

Year of the Beekeeper: T’N’T Apiaries

Owners: Barb Thyr & Dave Tharle Location: Ardmore Social info: Facebook Question:      How did you get involved in this sweet industry – what’s your story? Answer: My parents were married just before WW II and had a number of hired men on the farm. Sugar was rationed during the war, so my mother...

Year of the Beekeeper: The Gull Lake Honey Company Inc.

Owners: Lorne & Alida Prins Location: Gull Lake, Alberta Social info: Facebook Question:      How did you get involved in this sweet industry – what’s your story? Answer: Compared to many of the people reading this we are relatively new to the beekeeping scene. This is our 4th season as a commercial operation and...

Year of the Beekeeper: Honey Meadows Farm Inc.

Owners: Zwiers Family Location: Foothills, Alberta Social info: Website Question:      How did you get involved in this sweet industry – what’s your story? Answer: Jon- I got involved at a very young age. My very first job was just taking off the lids and then putting them back on once my dad and...

Year of the Beekeeper: Revival Queen Bees

Owners: Glyn and Shevelle Stephens Location: Spruce Grove, AB Social info: www.revivalqueenbees.com www.instagram.com/revivalqueenbees/ vm.tiktok.com/ZMeyDL1H6 www.facebook.com/revivalqueenbees How did you get involved in this sweet industry – what’s your story? Glyn grew up breeding queen bees at his family’s apiary in New Zealand. His parents were commercial queen breeders and he and his 4 siblings started helping with beekeeping...

2023 Alberta Honey & Hive Products Contest

Enter your Alberta honey and hive products in the 2023 Alberta Honey & Hive Contest and be in the running to win over $1000 in cash prizes! The ABC has partnered with Farmfair International to bring you the 2023 Alberta Honey Show where a panel of experienced judges will determine the cream (and liquid and...

Honey Drum Design Challenge

Alberta’s Next Top Honey Drum Designer Drum roll for all Alberta creative designers out there looking for a unique design challenge that will allow them to showcase their creative range and expertise on a sweet new medium…. The Alberta Beekeepers Commission is excited to launch a brand new creative design challenge where the winning designer will...

Bee Imports 2023: Now That’s More Like it

By Kieran Brett, Bootprint Marketing, on behalf of ABC. So far this year, imports of bee packages into Canada are running well ahead of pre-COVID levels. Importers are reporting record numbers and are still turning business away. Alberta Bee News asked a range of stakeholders about this high demand and what this says about the...

BRM Programs & the Environmental Farm Plan

Frequently Asked Questions By ABC Staff BRM Programs & the Environmental Farm Plan We have received a number of questions from beekeepers lately around BRM programs, eligibility, and Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) requirements, so we have put together the below information to help provide answers to some of the most Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): Q:...

Farm Family Profile: Gull Lake Honey Company Inc.

The Prins Family The Gull Lake Honey Company Near Lacombe, AB  |  Honey & Beeswax Products 1st Generation Beekeepers, but 3rd generation farmers. How did you get into farming? Lorne grew up on a family run grain and pig farm near Lacombe. After high school Lorne pursued a career in industrial construction which ultimately led to...

Alberta Bee News Magazine – August 2022

We’re pleased to share the August 2022 edition of Alberta Bee News Magazine! Read the August 2022 edition of Alberta Bee News Magazine online now by clicking HERE. TO DOWNLOAD, PLEASE CLICK THE DOWNLOAD ICON AT THE TOP LEFT.  

How Alberta bees make Canada’s canola industry possible

Bees managed by Alberta beekeepers provide essential pollination services for canola seed production. Canola growers buy $1 billion worth of seed per year to grow this signature crop, whose total economic impact surpasses $25 billion per year. In this special Alberta Beekeepers Commission report, we take you inside the vital relationship between Alberta bees and...

2021 Alberta Honey & Hive Products Contest

Enter your Alberta honey and hive products in the 2021 Alberta Honey & Hive Contest and be in the running for over $1000 in cash prizes! The ABC has partnered with Farmfair International to bring you the 2021 Alberta Honey Show where a panel of experienced judges will determine the cream (and liquid and flavoured!)...

Heat and Drought Make 2021 one of the Toughest Years Ever

For immediate release EDMONTON, August 9, 2021 – Heat and Drought Make 2021 one of the Toughest Years Ever There’s been widespread attention on the impact of this summer’s heat and drought on Alberta’s crop and livestock producers. When canola and other bee forages don’t develop and flower properly, bees lose a major source of...

Alberta Bee News Magazine – June 2021

We’re pleased to share the June 2021 edition of Alberta Bee News Magazine! Read the June 2021 edition of Alberta Bee News Magazine online now by clicking HERE. TO DOWNLOAD, PLEASE CLICK THE DOWNLOAD ICON AT THE TOP LEFT.

Year of the Beekeeper: Beelicious Inc.

Owners: Connie and Andrew McNeil Location: Bezanson, Alberta Social info: Facebook Website Question:      How did you get involved in this sweet industry – what’s your story? Answer: The summer of 1985, I worked for Peter Beerman south of Calgary and got “bitten by the bug.” I always remembered that job as a cool way...

Bee import delays puts honey, canola and blueberries at risk

For immediate release EDMONTON, April 6, 2021 – With the spring farming season close at hand, an irreplaceable agricultural resource is in dangerously low supply. COVID-related shipping and inspection delays have left Alberta beekeepers far short of the numbers of honeybees they’ll need for 2021. The Alberta Beekeepers Commission (ABC) is calling for urgent action....