A ban on bee replacements from the U.S. needs to be reviewed because of
severe overwintering losses here, says Alberta Beekeepers Commission
vice-president Lorne Prins, pictured with wife Alida at their operation near
Lacombe.

Open the border to replacement bee packages, say Alberta beekeepers

Producers need ‘a lifeline’ when winter losses soar

Reading Time: 2 minutes It wasn’t the worst winter they’ve seen, but Alberta beekeepers struggling with hive losses say Ottawa should allow imports of American bee replacements. “It’s important for Canadian beekeepers to have that lifeline, in the event that we have catastrophic losses,” said Lorne Prins, vice-president of the Alberta Beekeepers Commission.  “In all fairness, most producers will […] Read more

Curtis Miedema

Beekeepers got knocked down but they got up again

Reading Time: 3 minutes Despite many tribulations, beekeepers are optimistic about getting a good honey crop this year After two terrible, no-good, very bad years, Alberta’s beekeepers are feeling a little more optimistic. Poor weather severely reduced production in 2019, then came high overwintering losses, then the pandemic brought a maelstrom of troubles, and then more bad weather. “Last […] Read more


Some beekeepers may see delays in their honey season this year as seasonal workers arrive later than usual.

Decision on temporary foreign workers a boost for Alberta beekeepers

Beekeepers rely heavily on seasonal agricultural workers and would have had to downsize without them

Reading Time: 2 minutes The federal government’s decision to allow seasonal agricultural workers into the country is good news for Alberta’s beekeepers. The ag sector had feared border closures would keep out these workers and devastate sectors such as fruit and vegetable production. But Canadian beekeepers also rely on temporary foreign workers — about 1,500 are hired each year […] Read more

This summer was bad for bees because they fly — and forage — less when the weather is cool. Many Alberta beekeepers are reporting their honey production is down by half this year.

Cool weather, price drop hits Alberta honey producers

A poor honey crop and low prices spell bad times for the province’s beekeepers

Reading Time: 4 minutes This summer’s cool weather didn’t just have a negative impact on grain crops — it meant honeybees weren’t flying. And that has some commercial beekeepers in the province facing a dire economic situation. Most producers have substantially lower honey yields this year, said Connie Phillips, executive director of the Alberta Beekeepers Commission. That was borne […] Read more


bee hive

Alberta opts for better management to reduce bee deaths

Reading Time: 2 minutes What’s Alberta Beekeepers Commission response to Ontario’s move? Our stance hasn’t changed. We are still very much in favour of working towards a scientific conclusion or solution to what has happened. In Alberta, we just aren’t seeing the same things as they’re seeing out in Ontario. We were very interested in the Pest Management Regulatory […] Read more

beekeeper in uniform

Alberta beekeepers oppose Ontario neonic lawsuit

Beekeepers here are speaking out against lawsuit, saying it’s better to work with chemical companies

Reading Time: 2 minutes Alberta beekeepers are taking a stand and speaking out against a lawsuit filed by their Ontario counterparts against the makers of the controversial neonic pesticide. “We’re not being impacted by neonics. If we are, it’s very subtly,” said Grant Hicks, president of the Alberta Beekeepers Commission. “We’re not seeing any damage to our hives.” While […] Read more