Honey production here in free fall

The year 2022 was catastrophic for Quebec beekeepers. Colony numbers have collapsed due to devastation caused by a destructive parasite. As a result, the production of honey here has fallen by almost 35%, shows a study which has just been published by the Institut de la tourisme du Québec.

Fewer beekeepers

The number of beekeepers operating at least six colonies in production fell by 9.5% between 2021 and 2022 in Quebec, going from 547 to 495. This situation is explained by exceptional winter mortality of bees. “The winter of 2021-2022 was a disaster,” explains Pierre Giovenazzo, professor of beekeeping sciences at Laval University. “There was, in Canada, 45.5% [de pertes] and in Quebec, we lost 48% of the colonies. And that’s huge. » For comparison, mortality was 16.3% after the winter of 2022-2023, a situation a little closer to normal.

A devastating parasite

Beekeepers around the world are complaining that their bee colonies are collapsing. Several causes are pointed out, such as climate change and the use of pesticides. But it’s Varroa destructor, a species of parasitic mites which was introduced into Quebec in the 1990s, which is primarily responsible for winter losses in the province in 2022. “It is very difficult to control,” summarizes Pierre Giovenazzo. “It is a parasite that harms baby bees and all levels of the hive. »

Rebuild your livestock

To rebuild their stock, beekeepers must divide the strongest hives and find new queens for them. Often, they are imported by plane. “Fifty% of hives which died, that means that of the approximately 65,000 or 70,000 hives that there were, we fell back to 35,000. During one summer, the beekeepers worked hard to replenish the stock,” explains the president of the Apiculteurs et apicultrices du Québec, Raphaël Vacher. In 2021, there were 74,979 colonies operating in Quebec. Thanks to their efforts, beekeepers were able to recover in part by ending the year 2022 with 57,340 colonies.

Honey production down

Honey production decreased by 34.4% between 2021 and 2022. Total production in 2022 stood at approximately 1,483 metric tons

Pollination

Pollinating insects are necessary to produce 40% of our food. In Quebec, bees are particularly important for pollinating blueberries and cranberries. “With losses of 50%, there are perverse collateral effects. In 2022, we ran out of hives for pollination,” laments Mr. Giovenazzo. The number of rented hives went from 59,074 to 43,119. “There are some who have thrown in the towel. That’s for sure,” concludes Mr. Vacher, who regrets the lack of government assistance. “How much exactly?” I don’t know. We will realize it more when we see the statistics for 2023.”