Current News
Positions in ApicultureA Research Assistant- Entomology position in the Beaverlodge Research Station Apiculture program has opened. For those interested in the position click on the Agriculture Agri-Food job link. The deadline for submission is 26 February 2010.
A Technology Adaptation Specialist position is available for the new tech transfer program in Saskatchewan. The deadline for submission is 28 February.
McCormick Canada Sponsors CHC
McCormick Canada, owner of Canada's largest packer Billy Bee Honey Products has become a platinum sponsor 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 of CHC for a second year.
Hawaiian Queen Temporary Suspension of Imports
The CFIA is in negotiation with the USDA regarding the importation of Hawaiian queens. Since the arrival of varroa in Hawaii the conditions for inspection protocols have changed. While the discussions are taking place no honey bee queens are allowed to be imported from Hawaii. Dr Kruger, CFIA has advised us that Hawaii is the only country affected and importation from other states and countries will proceed as usual.
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. I
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).
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 now available in Canada for 2010. For more information visit the Mite Away website.
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 January 7, 2010 and can be viewed online.
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 will be announced soon. 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.
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 2010.
Apimondia 2013
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 ar e 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.
National Day of the Honey Bee
May 29, 2010 has been voted the Day of the Honey Bee by 32 cities and towns in Canada. CHC encourages everyone to approach their MLA to declare May 29, 2010 the Provincial 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
