Today is a day to think about the work that beekeepers go through in producing the honey that we enjoy.
When it comes to bee production, Saskatchewan beekeepers reported relatively low losses with this year's mild winter, while Alberta has seen some significant overwintering losses again this year.
Nathan Wendell, President of the Saskatchewan Bee Development Commission, says the Province has about 15% of the colonies in Canada.
"We produce about 25% of the honey in the country. We have the highest per hive production in all of Canada with about 175 to 180 pounds of honey from each hive in the province."
He notes they've also seen more of an increase in people keeping bees as hobbyists, with local bee clubs now located in Regina and Saskatoon.
Wendall says here in the Prairies, we have a strong beekeeping community, most people probably know someone who keeps bees whether it's on a commercial level or something smaller.
The Alberta Beekeepers Commission website notes that Alberta is actually the largest honey producer in Canada, and the third-largest honey producer in North America.
The Province once again has seen some significant overwintering losses this year.
Wendall says while most producers in Saskatchewan saw relatively low losses, Alberta wasn't as lucky.
"Alberta also had a difficult year last year, and producers there have had some trouble trying to source and replace bees due to COVID restrictions and travel problems."
He notes Manitoba much like Saskatchewan had fairly good success with overwintering bees last year, although there were some isolated incidents of higher loss.
Wendall notes in Saskatchewan we saw some of the lowest numbers in a decade, perhaps for a lot of producers.
"That's not to say that there aren't individual producers who have experienced higher than average losses, and that happens on a yearly basis due to a number of factors."
The Alberta Beekeepers Commission have declared 2021 as the 'Year of the Beekeeper' and will be featuring a new image of beekeepers doing what they do best on the cover of the Alberta Bee News Magazine.
People can submit photos of their beekeeping experience to office@albertabeekeepers.ca.
Photos must include people and must have been taken in Alberta, submissions are being accepted until November 15, 2021.
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