Bees & Beneficials – Defining Terms, Protecting Habitat and Recognizing Benefits

Jan 09, 2015

“Neonicotinoids,” “Colony Collapse Disorder,” “Varroa,” “Nosema”… Defining those colloquialisms (and others) was just one of the goals the Canola Council of Canada’s Gregory Sekulic had in mind when he presented “Buzzwords about Bees” at the Farming Smarter Conference in Medicine Hat. Sekulic wanted to clear the air on jargon that so often exacerbates misunderstanding.

“We really lose sight of the fact that the things and terms that we’re familiar with and use on a daily basis, aren’t used in the general public,” says Sekulic.

And although misinformation and misunderstandings certainly cause challenges, it isn’t all bad news in the bee industry. As we mentioned in A FarmTech ’15 Preview: All About the Bees, from 2013 to 2014 Canada actually saw increases in beekeepers, colonies, honey production and value, according to Statistics Canada data.

In addition, farmers are becoming increasingly aware of the roles beneficial insects play in agriculture, and how they can help those populations thrive. To Sekulic, the evolution of on-farm awareness is promising.

“The fact that growers are interested and are wanting to preserve these natural species — a large proportion of which are quite beneficial to us — is certainly encouraging and it makes my work worthwhile.”

In the following interview, filmed at the Farming Smarter Conference, Sekulic talks about wading through the jargon, protecting diverse habitats and recognizing the benefits of insect species.

Source: Alberta Canola Producers Commission

Video: Why Invest in Canada’s Seed Future? | On The Brink: Episode 3

Darcy Unger just invested millions to build a brand-new seed plant on his farm in Stonewall, Manitoba so when it’s time for his sons to take over, they have the tools they need to succeed.

Right now, 95% of the genetics they’ll be growing come from Canadian plant breeders.

That number matters.

When fusarium hit Western Canada in the late 90s, it was Canadian breeders who responded, because they understood Canadian conditions. That ability to react quickly to what’s happening on Canadian farms is exactly what’s at risk when breeding programs lose funding.

For farmers like Darcy, who have made generational investments based on the assumption that better genetics will keep coming, the stakes are direct and personal.

We’re on the brink of decisions that will shape our agricultural future for not only our generation, but also the ones to come.

What direction will we choose?

On The Brink is a year-long video series traveling across Canada to meet the researchers, breeders, farmers, seed companies, and policymakers shaping the future of Canadian plant breeding. Each week, a new story. Each story, a piece of the bigger picture.

Episode 3 is above. Follow Seed World Canada to catch every episode, and tell us: Do you think the next generation will have the tools they need to success when they takeover? How is the future going to look?