Current Beekeeping Statistics 2014 2013 2014 # of Registered - - PDF document

Apiculture in Ontario 2014 Industry Updates

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Current Beekeeping Statistics 2014

2013 2014 # of Registered Beekeepers 3,150 3,262 # of Producing Colonies 97,500 112,800 Winter Mortality (%) 38% 58%

Value of Ontario Honey: $26 million Value of Pollination in Ontario: $395 million 80% of colonies managed by commercial beekeepers

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Imports and Trade - 2014

Ontario imported:

• 33,050 queens
• 8,100 packages
• 1,600 colonies
• ~9,000 supers
• 1,000 for honey

production

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Pollination in Eastern Canada

[Source: OMAFRA]

5000 10000 15000 20000 25000 30000 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

• 12,600 colonies – June 2010

14,700 colonies – June 2011 26,000 colonies – June 2012 24,400 colonies – June 2013 29,800 colonies – June 2014

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Colony Mortality in Ontario (2003 to 2014)

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Year % Mortality

Ontario Losses in Beekeeping

2010 Varroa destructor is the main culprit for the death and reduced populations of overwintered honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies in Ontario, Canada.

Guzman-Novoa, E.; Eccles, L.; Calvete, Y.; McGowan, J.; Kelley, P.G.; Correa-Benitez, A. 2010. Varroa destructor is the main culprit for the death and reduced populations of overwintered honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies in Ontario, Canada.

• Apidologie. In press.

7 0.00 0.50 1.00 1.50 2.00 2.50 3.00 3.50 April May June July Aug Sept Oct

Average % of Bees Infested with Varroa Analysis of Varroa Infestation from Ontario Apiary Inspections in 2014

Recommended treatment threshold for May Recommended treatment threshold for August

8 0.00 0.50 1.00 1.50 2.00 2.50 3.00 3.50 April May June July Aug Sept Oct

Average % of Bees Infested with Varroa Analysis of Varroa Infestation from Ontario Apiary Inspections in 2014 at Commercial Yards

Recommended treatment threshold for August Recommended treatment threshold for May

9 0.00 1.00 2.00 3.00 4.00 5.00 6.00 7.00 April May June July Aug

Average % of Bees Infested with Varroa Analysis of Varroa Infestation from Ontario Apiary Inspections in 2014 at Non-commercial Yards

Recommended treatment threshold for May Recommended treatment threshold for August

American Foulbrood

• 2014 Orders: 32
• 2013 Orders: 30
• 2012 Orders: 71
• 2011 Orders: 29
• 2010 Orders: 89
• 2009 Orders: 27

American Foulbrood (AFB) Treatment Options

• Oxytetracycline – used for years,

shorter residual

• At present, no resistance to

Oxytetracycline in AFB in Ontario

• Tylosin – new registration, longer

residual (implications for spring use)

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[Source: OMAFRA]

2012: ~240 reported incidents, 40 beekeepers 2013: ~320 reported incidents, ~80 beekeepers 2014: ~345 reported incidents, ~62 beekeepers highest number reported in August

• Incidents reported in association to corn and

soybean planting

• Bee, pollen, soil and water samples are being

analyzed

• Reported symptoms include:

– Abrupt loss in the population of the colony (lots of capped brood with few bees) – Dead and dying bees at the entrance – Disorientated, paralyzed and shaking bees

Bee Kill Reports – 2012, 2013, 2014

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[Source: PMRA; OMAFRA]

Questions

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