Bear damage to hives added to Wildlife Damage Compensation Program

Jun 06, 2023

Bears can do significant damage to a beehive, tearing them apart in a search for bees and honey. As a result, Agriculture Financial Services (AFSC) is conducting a three-year bear damage to hives pilot project as part of the Wildlife Damage Compensation Program.

Starting May 1, eligible beekeepers will be able to make claims for losses to honey, bee colonies and beehive equipment between May 1 and October 31. To be eligible for coverage, beekeepers must have an active beekeeper registration and a minimum of 100 hives.

Claims will be paid at 80 per cent of losses based on the following coverage amounts for the 2023 crop year:

$275 per hive for lost bee colonies
$125 per hive for replacement of damaged boxes and frames
$6.173/kg for honey, with the assumption that 50 per cent of the honey will have been recollected by non-impacted hives

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Video: Winter Canola Trial in Mississippi | Can It Work for Double Cropping? | Pioneer Agronomy

Can winter canola open new opportunities for growers in the Mid-South? In this agronomy update from Noxubee County, Mississippi, Pioneer agronomist Gus Eifling shares an early look at a first-year winter canola trial and what farmers are learning from the field.

Planted in late October on 30-inch rows, the crop is now entering the bloom stage and progressing quickly. In this video, we walk through current field conditions, fertility management, and how timing could make this crop a valuable option for double-cropping soybeans or cotton.

If harvest timing lines up with early May, growers may be able to transition directly into another crop during ideal planting windows. Ongoing field trials will help determine whether canola could become a viable rotational option for the region.

Watch for:

How winter canola is performing in its first season in this Mississippi field

Why growers chose 30-inch rows for this trial

What the crop looks like as it moves from bolting into bloom

Fertility strategy, including nitrogen and sulfur applications

How canola harvest timing could enable double-cropping with soybeans or cotton

Upcoming trials comparing soybeans after canola vs. traditional planting

As more growers look for ways to maximize acres and diversify rotations, experiments like this help determine what new crops might fit into existing systems.