Nearly half of bee colonies have been wiped out over the winter in the country, the largest beekeeping loss in 20 years, according to preliminary data.
“It’s rather overwhelming! says the president of the Canadian Association of Professional Beekeepers (CSAA), Ernesto Guzman.
This excess mortality can be attributed to several factors, but Mr. Guzman believes that the proliferation of varroa, a parasitic mite that feeds on bees, is the main cause. He explains that the warm temperatures of spring 2021 have contributed to the growth of bee colonies. Unfortunately, these conditions have also favored the proliferation of varroa.
“The growth of colonies [d’abeilles] starts early in the season. The breeding season comes later. The varroa population is also surging. It is very high at the end of the summer,” says Mr. Guzman. He adds that most beekeepers wait until they have harvested the honey before fighting the pests.
“They start treating the hives against varroa at the beginning of autumn, and then it may be too late, because the parasite population has grown more significantly than in other years. »
Canadian growers lost 45.6% of their bee colonies over the past winter, according to an ACPA study. The largest losses occurred in Manitoba (57.2%) and Alberta (50.5%).
In Quebec, the mortality rate is 49.1%.
New Brunswick (19.8) and Nova Scotia (15.2) were the provinces most spared from this scourge.
The federal Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food says the health of bees is vital to the environment and economy because of their role in pollination and honey production.
“In Canada, canola seed production is by far the most economically important crop in Canada, with the contribution of honey bees, representing $12 billion in farm gate value in 2021,” the ministry said. .
He says he is developing a strategy with the beekeeping sector to counter the increase in mortality among bee colonies.
Mr. Guzman says most beekeepers use pesticides to control pests. However, these products cannot be used when the honey is in the hive. Producers might consider harvesting honey earlier than usual or choosing a different way to deal with pests.
The government funds research into new treatments. In particular, he invested more than $550,000 in a study on the efficacy and safety of three probiotics that could potentially help improve the health and survival rate of bees.
According to Guzman, recovering the losses that occurred last winter will be costly. “These are difficult times for the sector economically,” he says. You have to spend more to buy bees from another beekeeper or import them. More colonies lost means more money spent to recoup losses. »
Canada imported bees from Australia and New Zealand. Mr. Guzman certifies that beekeepers will do everything they can to keep their colonies healthy over the next few months. Another difficult winter “would be a new blow for the sector”.
“The sector is working hard to find solutions to this problem. »