'Honey armageddon': Manitoba beekeepers struggle with small honey harvest after massive die-off
Major colony loss in the spring, coupled with other challenges like inflation and honey prices, has Manitoba beekeepers buzzing about the coming winter weather.
Along with being the president of the Red River Apiarists' Association, John Russell keeps his own hives.
He says this year was an especially tough one on beekeepers.
"Pretty catastrophic," said Russell, the owner of John Russell Honey Company. "If we have two of those in a row, it's going to be honey armageddon."
Despite a great fall last year, a late and snowy spring dramatically killed off the bee population.
"I was looking at probably a four percent colony loss at the end of February, and by the end of April, it was at 40 per cent, which is not sustainable numbers," said Russell.
Podolski Honey Farms in Ethelbert, Man. saw 90 per cent of their bee population die over winter, meaning the apiary had to focus on rebuilding rather than honey production.
"Normally, we'd do 15-20 truckloads of honey. This year we only did four," said Bob Podolsky, owner of Podolski Honey Farms.
The Manitoba Beekeepers' Association said many producers are feeling beat up right now.
The association's president Ian Steppler said better access to importing bees could help the situation, but increasing local hive health is the focus.
"Just get better treatment options, maybe more effective treatments to be able to control the varroa mites, we should be able to keep our hives healthier," explained Steppler.
Steppler said many colonies made progress this season, but another rough overwintering could be disastrous for some.
"If we have another bad spring, it could be to the detriment of our industry," he said. "We could see a lot of producers really fall back because of that, so we are really hoping we have something positive ahead of us."
A risk keepers like Russell know could sting them.
"There's an old beekeeping saying that says any fool can keep bees until the end of December. The real tricky part is when you start getting towards spring," said Russell.
Russell said another mild fall with lots of flowers gave his bees plenty of honey for winter, leaving him with an optimistic outlook.
As for Podolsky, he took his bees to B.C. to overwinter in hopes that more will survive by keeping them in a milder climate.
Editor's note: Podoloski Honey Farms and Podolosky are intentionally spelled differently.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
The Indian couple killed in a wrong-way police chase crash on Highway 401 earlier this week has been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
Human remains found in rural Sask. possibly a decade old, RCMP say
RCMP say human remains found in a rural area in central Saskatchewan may have been there for a decade or more.
2 charged after police find 'concerning and diverse' explosives at Manitoba home
Winnipeg police say they have arrested two people in their 20s after a large amount of explosives were found in a home outside of Winnipeg, Man.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Spain abolishes national bullfighting award in cultural shift
Spain scrapped an annual bullfighting award on Friday, prompting a rebuke from conservatives over a backlash against a centuries-old tradition they see as an art form but which has run into growing concern for animal welfare.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.
Police officer hit by driver of fleeing vehicle in Toronto
York Regional Police say they are continuing to search for a suspect in an auto theft investigation who was captured on video running over a police officer in Toronto last month.