Beekeeping for Tommorow:  Best Colony Management
Feb 25, 2010
9:00 - 12:00 (to be followed by the SBA and SBDC AGM in the afternoon)
Sheraton Cavalier
Saskatoon SK.
 
Tentatively topics will include:
IPM - chemical rotation, sampling techniques and options
Sampling and testing for Nosema - demonstration
Production of nucs and splits
Requeening colonies
 
Guest Speaker: Janet Tam of the Ontario Technology Transfer Program

Multi-year Funding Received for SBATechnology Adaptation

 

The Saskatchewan Beekeeper’s Association has obtained approval for a $½ million, three year project through the Agriculture Council of Saskatchewan’s (ACS) Canadian Agriculture Adaptation Program (CAAP).  This project is a proactive approach to addressing resistant Varroa mites, high winter mortality, and the questionable efficacy of alternative disease control treatments and techniques in Saskatchewan’s climate. 

 

The project is a combination of applied research and extension.  The applied research will assist in determining the best application methods, timings and combinations of treatment methods to manage Varroa mites in Saskatchewan’s short treatment windows.  In addition another component will work on assessing better wintering techniques.  Recommendations will be developed from the results and delivered to beekeepers through the large extension component of the project.   

 

The project will start April 1 2009 and the SBA is currently looking for a qualified person to run the project.

Bear Damage Compensation

 The Wildlife Damage Compensation Program provides:

• 100 per cent compensation on damage caused by white-tailed deer, mule deer, antelope, elk, bear, moose, bison, ducks, geese and sandhill cranes that have not been held in captivity.

All Saskatchewan producers are eligible to receive compensation for these crop losses through the Wildlife Damage Compensation Program; you do not have to be a Crop Insurance customer to receive compensation.

Eligible crops include:

• Market gardens, tree nurseries, sod farms, honey and leaf cutter bees, including their structures

Producers must implement prevention measures offered by Saskatchewan Environment using all reasonable options to control and limit wildlife damage. These measures include:

• Working with local conservation officers to protect stacked feed, silage, sod farms, market gardens, bee structures and hay from big game animals

What to do in the event of damage:

"Day of the Honey Bee"
The City of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada has the pride of being the first municipal government in the world to sign a proclamation to declare May 29, 2010 as the first annual Day of the Honey Bee.  
Click here for Clinton Shane Ekdahl's speech to the Saskatoon City Councillors.
Click here for a template of a letter to the Prime Minister if you want to support the campaign.
For more information on the project contact Shane at cccssseee@hotmail.co.uk or go to sign an online petition.

Honey and Healing
A Saskatchewan high school science project shows honey controls mastitis infection

New Apiculture Specialist
Geoff Wilson is the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture's new apiculture specialist. He replaces John Gruszka who has retired. 

Farewell to John Gruszka from SBA

After 32 years of service to the Government of Saskatchewan and Saskatchewan beekeepers, John Gruszka will be retiring this winter. During his time as the Provincial Apiculturist there were many trials and successes in the beekeeping industry. John has helped to navigate the Saskatchewan beekeeping industry through many troubles. His work has helped improve over-wintering of bees in Saskatchewan, and delayed the invasion of tracheal mites, Varroa mites and drug- and acaracide-resistant pests in the province. All of this helped to mitigate the negative effects of these pests and diseases on the province’s beekeepers.

 

John also played an important part in planning Apimondia ’99 in Vancouver and helped to make it such a great success. He was an active contributor to the Canadian Association of Professional Apiculturists (CAPA), including a period as president from 1980 to 1985, where he represented Saskatchewan on the national stage. John’s career included receiving such prestigious awards as the Fred Rathje Memorial Award in 2000 from the Canadian Honey Council, the Distinguished Agrologist Award in 2005 from the Saskatchewan Institute of Agrologists and the CAPA Outstanding Service Award in 2008.

Thanks, John!