Ontario’s growing community pastures will receive up to $5 million to boost the resilience and productivity of community grazing land. The funding was announced at the Ontario Forage Expo near Paisley June 26. The forage expo was put on by the Ontario Forage Council which will administer the community pastures program. Why it matters: Community […] Read more
Tag Archives pollinators
Province invests in community grazing pastures
COMMENT: How honeybees can help us monitor pollution across Canada
The honey produced by the tireless work of the honeybee is nothing short of an untapped goldmine of environmental data that could help us better understand the spread of environmental pollutants.
To save bees, focus first on habitat, then pesticides: scientists
Science Notes: A recent study indicates habitat loss is a bigger factor than pesticide exposure when it comes to bee diversity
Hedgerows and wild grass in field margins, which previously served as semi-natural habitats, are being swallowed by agricultural production. While scientists have suggested pesticide use and habitat loss are detrimental to pollinators, their relative impacts were unclear. A recent study by researchers in China, the U.K. and the Netherlands offers insight. It showsthat semi-natural habitats […] Read more
New plant-based bee health treatment shows promise
Research results show treatment has efficacy against foulbrood viruses and varroa mites
The challenges facing bee health have become well-known in recent years as bee deaths have made headlines in many countries. According to the Canadian Association of Professional Apiculturists, honeybee losses in Canada were estimated at 32 per cent nationwide last year, with provincial losses ranging from 11.7 to 46.2 per cent. A British Columbia company […] Read more
Ontario start-up Best for Bees takes Innovation Award at World Beekeeping Awards
ProtectaBEE tech recognized as beekeeping innovation
An Ontario-based beekeeping tech start-up took home a silver medal at the World Beekeeping awards in Chile last month. Kitchener’s Best for Bees received the Innovation in Practical Beekeeping Award for its ProtectaBEE technology, an all-in-one adjustable hive entrance meant to protect hives. Small entrance and exit cones direct bees to walk through a fungal […] Read more
U of G hits sweet spot with honeybee research centre
New centre to operate as hive of community engagement
The University of Guelph is abuzz with anticipation now the ground has broken for a new $16 million honeybee research facility. The 15,000-square-foot Luckevich Pinchin Honey Bee Research Centre (HBRC) should be operational by 2025 and house North America’s most significant number of honeybee research colonies. Why it matters: The HBRC has operated since 1894, […] Read more
Ontario beekeepers reeling from triple-season hit
Poor weather and varroa mite extract heavy toll on colonies
A tough fall, unstable winter temperatures and a cool spring have conspired to take a major toll on honeybee populations in Ontario and throughout Canada. Populations of varroa mite, a parasitic pest that attacks honeybees, have also been high this spring. With limited means to control varroa, Canadian beekeepers could face losses even greater than […] Read more
Proximity to pollinator habitat linked to larger soybean size
Science Notes: Habitat was created by planting wildflowers on unused land
Researchers at North Carolina State University have found that soybean crops planted near pollinator habitat produce larger soybeans than crops not planted near pollinator habitat. “Even though soybeans are not thought of as being dependent on pollinators, we found that soybean plants are still attractive to bees,” says Hannah Levenson, a postdoctoral research scholar at […] Read more
On-farm trial aims to pin down flower seed isolation standard
Flower seed information is largely proprietary, unlike that for veggies
When even a $400 book about flower seed production failed to yield useful information about isolation distance for popular cut flower varieties, Kim Delaney knew she needed to dig deeper. Now, after three years of an on-farm research project through the Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario (EFAO), she’s starting to find answers. “With veggie seed […] Read more
Editorial: Bee open-minded about pollinator assumptions
Sometimes it’s good to check your assumptions at the door, but that seems to be a tougher action for people, especially with access to so much information that can reinforce your thoughts. Journalists are trained to do this early in their career and you get far more interesting and better stories when you arrive with […] Read more
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