Beekeepers in Western Canada are more optimistic about profitability this year as prices look set to nearly double from last year.
Even those with less to sell this fall because of bad summer weather are looking forward to the higher prices as a way to help ease their pain.
Prices have already risen to more than $1.40 per pound from 80 cents per lb. last year and Ed Nowek, chair of the Canadian Honey Council, said they could reach $1.75 if global production falls more than expected.
Lack of surplus production from Argentina and a small honey crop in the United States due to bad weather and hive losses are two of the major factors driving the rising prices, he added.
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“I’m hoping it won’t go like it did last time, when it hit $2.50 like it was on a springboard and then the bottom fell out,” he said.
“I think everybody would like to see some stability in pricing.”
Canadian production is likely to be down this year, he said, largely because of a poor crop in Alberta due to heavy wintering losses and drought conditions in the north. Alberta accounts for 40 percent of the country’s bees.
Parts of Saskatchewan and Manitoba have also suffered poor crops, although production numbers appear to be highly variable from region to region.
Control of resistant varroa mites continues to be a problem for some producers. However, a new temporary use permit for the chemical control agent Apivar that is good until April 2009 offers beekeepers a new treatment option. It has been proven successful in Europe and New Zealand.
Apivar may control varroa mites resistant to the two most popular miticide options, Apistan and CheckMite, because it uses a different mode of action.
Nowek said beekeepers in most provinces will be able to use the amitraz-coated plastic strips for fall and early spring control of mites, but future use is still undecided.
Paul Gregory, a beekeeper from Fisher Branch, Man., said too much rain and cool nights over the summer slashed honey production at his operation by one-third to one-half.
“It’s been a pretty tough year.”
With only five percent over-wintering mortality using a formic acid varroa mite treatment called Mite Away, he was optimistic going into spring, especially after suffering 70 percent losses two years ago, or roughly 1,000 colonies.
Timing is everything in controlling the destructive mites, he added, because if even a low rate of infestation is left for too long, the mites multiply at an exponential rate that can quickly cause damage. Once the honey crop was harvested, he made treating mites a top priority.
“If you wait until late September, it could be too late,” he said.
Beekeepers have also been warned not to use honey-shipping drums manufactured in China, some of which may have been contaminated with non-food grade coatings, he added.
