Prairie beekeepers reaped a bountiful harvest this year, with yields that could hit record levels in Alberta and Manitoba.
Bee colonies were strong this spring because of the mild winter associated with El Nino. Favorable weather during the summer spurred on the honeybees.
“It turned out to be a great year. Probably the best we’ve ever had,” said Kenn Tuckey, Alberta’s provincial apiculturist.
A final tally isn’t complete, but Tuckey expects Alberta to produce 30 million pounds of honey this year. Bee colonies in that province are yielding about 200 lb. of honey each, he said.
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Manitoba also saw a sharp climb in the amount of honey produced by its bee colonies. Each colony usually produces an average of 150 lb. This year’s average is expected to top 200 lb.
“We’re looking at a very big crop,” said provincial apiarist Don Dixon. “We may have the biggest crop that we’ve ever produced.”
Bees rely on nectar to produce honey. Hay and canola crops are a prime source of that nectar.
In Saskatchewan, the outlook for those crops was precarious this spring due to dry weather. However, crops were revived by rains in mid-June followed by warmer temperatures. That gave honeybees ample nectar to draw upon.
“Most people are reporting above average crops,” said Wink Howland, a director for the Saskatchewan Beekeepers’ Association. “I haven’t heard of anyone being below average.”
Beekeepers are now turning attention to honey markets, which are soft. Packers are offering 75 to 95 cents per pound.
“I’m not aware of any major situation in the world that is pushing prices down, but they aren’t bidding very much for it, which means they have honey at hand,” Dixon said.
He cautioned against reading too much into current prices because they’re usually unstable at this time of year, especially after a big crop of honey is harvested.
“We don’t like to hang too much of our hat on prices at this time of year,” he said. “They’re bouncing around a bit but they’re still at reasonable levels.”
With record honey production in many areas, the market is soft but producers say prices are at reasonable levels.
