The federal and provincial governments are investing over $1.7 million to support 334 beekeeping projects in the province.
“Healthy bee populations are vital to the diverse crops that grow right across Ontario,” said the federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Heath MacDonald. “I’m pleased that our support through the Honey Bee Health Initiative is helping beekeepers protect their colonies and improve their resiliency for years to come.”
The projects are focused on improving the resilience of colonies and boosting the competitiveness of local businesses amidst U.S. tariffs.
“Honey bees in Ontario provide valuable pollination services to many of the crops we eat,” explained the President of the Ontario Beekeepers’ Association, Stephen Moore. “High winter losses, new pests, and the threat of treatment resistance have made recent years challenging for Ontario’s beekeepers.”
“The Honey Bee Health Initiative has been a valuable support for beekeepers who are having to change their practices or invest in new equipment to meet the emerging challenges. It is helping to enable beekeepers to continue to provide the critical pollination services to the broader agricultural and horticultural community here in Ontario.”
Last year, there were more than 4,000 registered beekeepers across the province, generating around $28 million in sales.
