Saskatchewan Beekeepers - About Us

Plains Indians are credited with originating the name Saskatchewan. Their word was "kisiskatchewan" - meaning the river that flows swiftly - in reference to the most important waterway running through their territory, now known as the Saskatchewan River.

Saskatchewan covers 651,900 square kilometers - more than a quarter million square miles. Contrary to popular belief, fully one half of the province is covered by forest, one third is farmland (42% of the cultivated land in Canada) and one-eighth is fresh water (with over 100,000 lakes !).

Saskatchewan is home to a million people, many with family roots in Europe, Russia, Scandanavia, and the British Isles. Although the province is dependent on the farm economy, two thirds of its people live in the cities and towns.

Premium Quality Honey Production
Our honey is produced in a clean, pristine environment free of heavy industry. Our honey is produced from canola (Brassica sp.), alfalfa (Medicago sp.), sweet clovers (Trifolium sp.), and borage (Borage sp.). Because all of these crops bloom at once it is often impossible to separate the honeys. However there are areas where unifloral sources of sweet clover, alfalfa, and borage honey can be produced. All of these honeys produce a mild-flavored white honey which is used around the world for table honey and for blending with stronger honeys.

Because of Saskatchewan's northern latitude, the long day length and warm summer days in June, July and August translate into immense honey flows with daily colony weight gains in excess of 20 pounds per day (sometimes over 30 pounds per day). The growing season is short and intense. However the dry climate and populous hives take advantage of the six million acres of canola and an equal amount of alfalfa to profduce large surplus honey crops. There are significant acres of clover and borage grown for seed in the areas of highest bee concentration and this also contributes significantly to the honey crop.

SBA Accomplishments
The Saskatchewan Beekeepers Association is a strong organization with over 250 members. Its membership includes virtually all commercial beekeepers as well as an equal number of hobby beekeepers. Saskatchewan beekeepers are an innovative and prgessive group, proud of their accomplishments:

1. Honey Production. Our climate and agricultural conditions coupled with beekeepers management skills combine to produce the largest per capita honey production in Canada and perhaps one of the highest in the world.
2. Self-Reliance. Since the early 1970's Saskatchewan beekeepers have been at the fronfront of prairie beekeeping in learning how to winter colonies outdoors and indoors. This has resulted in stronger colonies and higher production. At the same time many producers have begun queen production on a commercial scale both for their own use and for sale within Saskatchewan and exports to the United States. Selected Saskatchewan stock is extremely productive and winter hardy.
3. Disease Control. The tracheal mite arrived in Saskatchewan in 1987 and the Varroa mite in 1995. Using a system of quarantines, movement restrictions, treatment of affected apiaries, and mapping of apiary locations, the tracheal mite is now found in only half of the colonies in the province and Varroa in less than 10% of the hives.
4. Education. The SBA provides a quarterly newsletter to its members. The annual convention attracts approximately 150 people each year to hear speakers and research results. An annual field day is held to update members on the the latest beekeeping issues and to showcase a Saskatchewan producer.
5. Research Funding. The SBA obtained $500,000 from the provincially funded Agi-Food Innovation Fund. In addition the members contribute generously to this area. This money is spent on research into tracaeal and Varroa mite biology and control as well as nectar production and pollination needs of specialty crops. Most recently the SBA has provided significant monies to fund research on the Russian Bee Project in Canada.

Life Members

C.E. Meilicke, Prince Albert
R.M. Pugh, Tisdale
J. Shadick, Saskatoon
A.L. Hand, Porcupine Plain
Dr. D.F. Peer, Nipawin
A. Taylor, Nipawin
R. Knox, Nipawin

Honorary Members

Dr. S.H. Nelson, Saskatoon
E. Bland, Prince Albert
Ian MacMurchy, Regina
Award of Merit

J. Shadick Saskatoon
John Gruszka Prince Albert
Dr. D.F. Peer Nipawin
A. Taylor Nipawin
Ed Bland Prince Albert
C. Jones Nipawin
Regina Bee Club


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Saskatchewan Beekeepers - About Us Plains Indians are credited with originating the name Saskatchewan. Their word was "kisiskatchewan" - meaning the river that flows swiftly - in reference to the most important waterway running through their territory, now known as the Saskatchewan River. Saskatchewan covers 651,900 square kilometers - more than a quarter million square miles. Contrary to popular belief, fully one half of the province is covered by forest, one third is farmland (42% of the cultivated land in Canada) and one-eighth is fresh water (with over 100,000 lakes !). Saskatchewan is home to a million people, many with family roots in Europe, Russia, Scandanavia, and the British Isles. Although the province is dependent on the farm economy, two thirds of its people live in the cities and towns. Premium Quality Honey Production Our honey is produced in a clean, pristine environment free of heavy industry. Our honey is produced from canola (Brassica sp.), alfalfa (Medicago sp.), sweet clovers (Trifolium sp.), and borage (Borage sp.). Because all of these crops bloom at once it is often impossible to separate the honeys. However there are areas where unifloral sources of sweet clover, alfalfa, and borage honey can be produced. All of these honeys produce a mild-flavored white honey which is used around the world for table honey and for blending with stronger honeys. Because of Saskatchewan's northern latitude, the long day length and warm summer days in June, July and August translate into immense honey flows with daily colony weight gains in excess of 20 pounds per day (sometimes over 30 pounds per day). The growing season is short and intense. However the dry climate and populous hives take advantage of the six million acres of canola and an equal amount of alfalfa to profduce large surplus honey crops. There are significant acres of clover and borage grown for seed in the areas of highest bee concentration and this also contributes significantly to the honey crop. SBA Accomplishments The Saskatchewan Beekeepers Association is a strong organization with over 250 members. Its membership includes virtually all commercial beekeepers as well as an equal number of hobby beekeepers. Saskatchewan beekeepers are an innovative and prgessive group, proud of their accomplishments: 1. Honey Production. Our climate and agricultural conditions coupled with beekeepers management skills combine to produce the largest per capita honey production in Canada and perhaps one of the highest in the world. 2. Self-Reliance. Since the early 1970's Saskatchewan beekeepers have been at the fronfront of prairie beekeeping in learning how to winter colonies outdoors and indoors. This has resulted in stronger colonies and higher production. At the same time many producers have begun queen production on a commercial scale both for their own use and for sale within Saskatchewan and exports to the United States. Selected Saskatchewan stock is extremely productive and winter hardy. 3. Disease Control. The tracheal mite arrived in Saskatchewan in 1987 and the Varroa mite in 1995. Using a system of quarantines, movement restrictions, treatment of affected apiaries, and mapping of apiary locations, the tracheal mite is now found in only half of the colonies in the province and Varroa in less than 10% of the hives. 4. Education. The SBA provides a quarterly newsletter to its members. The annual convention attracts approximately 150 people each year to hear speakers and research results. An annual field day is held to update members on the the latest beekeeping issues and to showcase a Saskatchewan producer. 5. Research Funding. The SBA obtained $500,000 from the provincially funded Agi-Food Innovation Fund. In addition the members contribute generously to this area. This money is spent on research into tracaeal and Varroa mite biology and control as well as nectar production and pollination needs of specialty crops. Most recently the SBA has provided significant monies to fund research on the Russian Bee Project in Canada. *Life Members* C.E. Meilicke, Prince Albert R.M. Pugh, Tisdale J. Shadick, Saskatoon A.L. Hand, Porcupine Plain Dr. D.F. Peer, Nipawin A. Taylor, Nipawin R. Knox, Nipawin *Honorary Members* Dr. S.H. Nelson, Saskatoon E. Bland, Prince Albert Ian MacMurchy, Regina Award of Merit J. Shadick Saskatoon John Gruszka Prince Albert Dr. D.F. Peer Nipawin A. Taylor Nipawin Ed Bland Prince Albert C. Jones Nipawin Regina Bee Club