Current News
Business Manager Position
The Calgary office of the CHC has a position vacant for a business manager to assist the CEO in daily management of the national office. Duties include: accounting and reporting financial performance, administration of sponsorship and donation programs, project proposal writing, preparation of funding applications, project coordination, board support, event planning, strategic financial and operational planning for the organization. The position has been redefined so candidates who applied previously are welcome to reapply. Deadline for application is 20th August, 2010.
Urban beekeeping on the rise
Canadian Opera company is abuzz with the sound of bees. Read the full story in the Ottawa citizen
Do you operate a small-scale farm? Have your say! All respondents can enter for a chance to win $100. The Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council is researching the labour needs on farms with less than $100,000 in gross receipts. Go to www.cahrc-ccrha.ca
BeeMaid Honey Donates to CHC
A generous donation to CHC in an amount of $61,750 has been made by BeeMaid Honey to support the national association priorities of hive health and food safety. The CHC is grateful for the donation and plans to use the funds to further our efforts in achieving more tools for varroa mite treatments and in promoting integrated pest management for the production of high quality, healthy honey.
Apivar Approved
The CHC requested the Pest Management Regulatory Agency to approve Emergency Use Registration of Apivar® (amitraz) for Canadian beekeepers. It has been given temporary approval for use until June 2011.Click here to see the approved label.
Oxalic Acid Public Consultation
The PMRA held a period of public consultation on oxalic acid dihydrate. The process of registration is winding to a close as CHC negotiates with PMRA how the new pesticide label will be distributed to users.
Pollen Identification Project
A new project entitled: ‘Floral identification of Canadian honey and pollen and development of a palynological reference booklet’. has been undertaken by Mélissa Girard at University of Laval. Beekeepers are offered free identification of pollen samples while funding is in place. A reference collection, photo booklet and identification key will be produced. Click here for more information
Mann Lake Ltd
A donation of $2500 has been made by Mann Lake Ltd towards the work of the CHC. The CHC gratefully acknowledges our corporate sponsor and thanks Mann Lake Ltd for their continued support.
Biosecurity
As part of a voluntary biosecurity program, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency is conducting a biosecurity survey of beekeepers starting November 2010. CHC is part of the BeeBAC committee that will be drawing up standards for on farm biosecurity in 2011.
Honey Bee Losses in Canada
A recent publication in Journal Apicultural Research by Canadian researchers , Rob Currie, Steve Pernal and Ernesto Guzman documents honey bee losses in Canada. Increased rates of winter colony losses in Canada are probably the result of stressors such as weather patterns that affected forage availability for bees, fall feeding management, mite and bee population growth, spring build up in combination with the effects of Varroa destructor, the presence of Nosema spp.,viruses and other diseases.
Bayer CropScience
CHC has a sponsor program wherein allied industries can show support of the CHC. We are pleased to acknowledge a donation at bronze level ($5,000) from Bayer CropScience. Around 80,000 colonies of honey bees are involved in hybrid seed pollination service for seed companies like Bayer CropScience.
Canadian Bee Research Fund Awards
The Canadian Bee Research Fund committee announced the three successful projects that will receive grants for Canadian research in 2010. Congratulations to Drs Pernal, Currie and Shutler on their funding award.
Research assistance
BeeMaid Honey has announced the recipients of honey bee research grants for 2010.
Winter Losses being counted
The USDA has announced preliminary figure of 33% winter loss of colonies. In Canada CAPA is collecting data and will have a tally soon.
Integrated Pest Management Booklet
The CHC produced an IPM poster which was well received by beekeepers. It is currently being revised and reproduced in expanded format as a booklet called IPM for Healthy Bees.
On Farm Food Safety
Beekeepers are looking for a good production practices manual to help with risk planning for on farm food safety. The CHC has joined the Canadian On Farm Food Safety working group. Our C-BISQT good production practices manual has been submitted to CFIA for review. The acronym stands for Canadian Bee Industry Safety Quality Traceability. When the manual is ready it will be available online at www.cbisqt.ca.
New Product for Treating Varroa Mites
A Canadian company, NOD Apiary Products, has announced a new generation varroa mite treatment called Mite Away Quick Strip (MAQS)TM. It is not yet registered in Canada. For more information visit the Mite Away website. The company in partnership with BASF has announced that they will be pursuing European markets as well.
McCormick Canada Sponsors CHC
McCormick Canada, owner of Canada's largest packer Billy Bee Honey Products has become a platinum sponsor ($20,000) of the CHC. This arrangement cements the tie between the new owner from London Ontario and the beekeepers who supply quality product for the food industry. McCormick is building a new honey packing facility at their headquarters in south western Ontario.
Odem International Sponsors CHC
CHC is proud to announce that Odem International a trading house specializing in raw honey and honey products has agreed to be a bronze level sponsor ($5,000)of CHC for a second year.
Hawaiian Queen Imports Resume
After a brief interruption in the issuance of import permits for queen bees from Hawaii, the CFIA has completed negotiations with the USDA. The Canadian inspection protocols for varroa mite levels will be respected and shipments have resumed.
Rathje Award
Dr Medhat Nasr was presented with the CHC's Rathje award during the North American Beekeepers Conference in Orlando. The trophy is awarded annually to a person who has an outstanding, positive, innovative and creative contribution resulting in the betterment of the Canadian Bee Industry.
North American Beekeepers Conference
The CHC AGM, research conference and trade show in Orlando was a big success. Over 180 Canadian attended the event and there were nearly 1000 attendees at the conference. The American Beekeeping Federation and the American Honey Producers' Association is planning a joint meeting in Galveston Texas Jan 4-8, 2011 and the Mexican Organization Nacional de Apicultores has indicated that they will be there too. All are invited and welcome to attend.
Save Our Bees is on Facebook
Sign up as a fan of the CHC's Save Our Bees campaign and show your support on our Facebook page
CANPOLIN Project
CHC supports a research initiative supported by NSERC and industry funding that involves 26 universities in researching the decline of pollinators. Click here for a summary of the reports of the pollinator working groups including managed bees (honey bees and leafcutters).
Save Our Bees Campaign
Our food supply is threatened by the high loss of honey bee colonies. It is time to get serious about a Honey Bee Resource Centre, improving communications with agricultural producers and expanding public education about pollinator awareness.Click here for more information about the CHC's new campaign Save Our Bees or download the new brochure.
Documentary To Bee or Not to Bee
CBC's documentary on the plight of honey bees To Bee or Not to Bee aired on the Nature of Things can be viewed online at CBC.
Pollinator Research Supported
$5 million from NSERC has been approved over the next 5 years towards a joint pollinator research project. Canpolin is spearheaded by Dr Peter Kevan, principle investigator and Dr Laurence Packer together with a Scientific Advisory Committee. The CHC has accepted a position on the Board of Directors and will work to advance pollinator research including honey bees. For a copy of their latest newsletter click here
Canadian Bee Research
The Canadian Bee Research Fund accepts proposals annually from researchers requesting grants for honey bee research. The grants for 2010 have been awarded. For information on the CBRF and how to apply for a grant click here
Research Projects
Canadian researchers are engaged in a variety of honey bee research projects. Click here for the 2009 list of research projects that are currently underway in Canada.
Apimondia 2011 and 2013
Argentina is the host of Apimondia 2011 (Sept 22-27) and Ukraine has been voted as host of Apimondia 2013. Click here for more information.
Country or Origin Labelling for USA
USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service is establishing a new regulation addressing country of origin labeling for packed honey bearing any official USDA mark or statement. The rule would also add a new cause for debarment from inspection and certification of honey. The new regulation is necessary because section 10402 of the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Farm Bill) amended the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to require country of origin labeling for honey if it contains official USDA grade marks or statements. The 2008 Farm Bill requires that packaged honey bearing any combination of USDA marks or statements must also display the name or names of the one or more countries of origin of the lot or container of honey so that the name or names are legible, permanently in close proximity to the USDA marks or statement -- such as on the same side(s) or surface(s), of a comparable size to the USDA marks or statements, and are preceded by the words "Product of" or other words of similar meaning. To allow the industry to clear the market of labels that do not comply with the new rules, this interim final rule becomes effective Oct. 6, 2009.
The CHC held its AGM and research conference with the American Beekeeping Federation in Orlando 12-16 January, 2010. For a report on the trade show click here.
Label Your Honey Pure Honey 100% Canadian
CHC has labels for beekeepers to use on containers of Pure Honey 100% Canadian, to differentiate our product from imported honey. To order container labels contact Geoff@honeycouncil.ca
Organic Standards now official
The CHC has been active in co-operating with the Canadian General Standards Board in developing organic standards for agriculture including beekeepers. The Canadian Organic Products Regulations are now official The regulations came into force on 30th June, 2009. The objective is to protect consumers from misleading labelling practices through a uniform approach to certification and labelling.
Canadian Bee Research Fund
CBRF grants have been announced for 2009. For information on the projects and successful applicants, click here.
Day of the Honey Bee
May 29, 2010 has been voted the Day of the Honey Bee by 64 cities and towns in Canada. CHC encourages everyone to approach their MLA to declare May 29 the Day of the Honey Bee while CHC works to have a National Day of the Honey Bee. For more information on this project visit the SBA website
National US Honey Report
The USDA has released the import/export report for April which has the quantity and value of honey from Canada. Click here for the full report.
Need Replacement Bees or Queens?
The Classified page on Hivelights magazine website lists suppliers of honey bee stock.
Hive Health Initiative
The CHC received funding from Agriculture Agri-Food to commence work on a Hive Health Initiative. The first step was a meeting January 19-20, 2009 of stakeholders to identify the gaps in data collection and steps for developing a framework for a data base and hive health network. View the report of the stakeholder meeting here
Save Our Bees
Research is needed to help find the reasons for high honey bee losses. The Canadian Bee Research Fund is a charitable organization set up to help fund Canadian research projects. It is jointly administered by the Canadian Honey Council and the Canadian Association of Professional Apiculturists.Click here to learn more or donate to the fund.
Recognising the Symptoms of CCD
A complete description of Colony Collapse Disorder across time and location has been documented by Jerry Bromenshenk and his team at Bee Alert. For more information check out Catch the Buzz e-zine
EU takes steps to ban scores of pesticides
Britain is to get its toughest crackdown on toxic substances in food and the environment, despite determined resistance to the safety measures from Gordon Brown. Scores of pesticides suspected of causing cancer, DNA damage and "gender-bender" effects are to be phased out under new EU rules, which are being hailed as a revolution in the way the public is protected against poisonous chemicals. The use of all pesticides in public places is to be dramatically reduced, with aerial spraying banned anywhere in the country. Click here for the full story.
Hey Caterpillar Buzz off!
Caterpillars destroy plants by feeding on leaves, flowers, and fruits. But they have a predator of their own: the wasp. To defend itself, the caterpillar has developed sensory hairs that "feel" the air vibrations caused by the beating of wasp wings. If a wasp approaches, the caterpillar stops moving or drops off the plant for safety. Jürgen Tautz, a biologist at the University of Würzburg in Germany, wondered whether bees, whose wings beat with a similar frequency to those of wasps, would have a similar effect. Bees do indeed protect crops. Click here for the full story
BC Genome Project
A genome research project in BC will include an investigation of innate resistance of honey bees. Dr Leonard Foster has received funding for a large scale project that will include the genomic and proteomic identification of pathogen-resistant traits, subcellular and suborganellar imaging and the innate immune response of bees. A grant from the Canadian Bee Research Fund which is administered by CHC and CAPA has been donated towards the project.
Honey Drum Standards
Used juice drums are no longer permitted by the CFIA for packing bulk honey except with a food grade plastic liner. The CHC has endorsed new standards for bulk containers.For more on the standards click here.
Forging a New Direction
The CHC has made considerable progress on restructuring and revitalizing the organization. The FAND project ended 31 March 2009. Click here for the final report
