bees Archives | Page 2 of 4 | Alberta Farmer Express

The Beekeeping Cost of Production Survey looks at costs and returns to generate benchmark data and business performance indicators such as Return to Equity.

Province updating survey on beekeeping costs and returns

The four-decade-old survey is periodically updated to give producers benchmark data

By Alberta Agriculture And Forestry Release December 14, 2016

The province is conducting its latest survey on the cost of production for beekeeping in Alberta. “The main purpose of the 2016 Beekeeping Cost of Production Survey is to monitor the current costs and returns of beekeeping in Alberta,” said Emmanuel Laate, senior crop economist with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. “We have periodically monitored the […] Read more

Livestock

Leading insecticide cuts bee sperm by almost 40 per cent

By Staff July 28, 2016

The world’s most widely used insecticide is an inadvertent contraceptive for bees, cutting live sperm in males by almost 40 per cent, The Guardian in the UK is reporting. Citing research led by Lars Straub at the University of Bern, Switzerland, the report says neonicotinoid pesticides were found to cut the lifespan of the drones […] Read more

Livestock, Poultry/Eggs

Postal workers pledge to move bees, chicks if striking

By Staff June 14, 2016

Canada Post and its unionized staff have agreed to set up a system in which workers would volunteer to move live animals, such as day-old chicks or bees, during a strike or lockout. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) said Tuesday it has a new agreement with the Crown corporation to move and deliver social […] Read more

Crops, Reuters

France moves toward all-out ban on neonics

By Reuters March 18, 2016

Paris | Reuters — French lawmakers approved plans for a total ban on some widely used pesticides blamed for harming bees, going beyond European Union restrictions in a fierce debate that has pitched farmers and chemical firms against beekeepers and green groups. The EU limited the use of neonicotinoid chemicals, produced by companies including Bayer […] Read more

Crops, News

Alberta beekeeping workshops set to begin

By Alberta Agriculture and Forestry March 2, 2016

The province is putting on four beginner beekeeping workshops, two intermediate ones, and two on farm food safety and biosecurity workshops. “These workshops are designed for new entrants as well as experienced beekeepers by providing up-to-date information on better management practices from start to setup,” he says. Workshop speakers include provincial apiculturist Medhat Nasr, apiculture […] Read more

Crops

Regulatory reviews show slim risk to bees from imidacloprid

By Staff January 6, 2016

Label directions and rules for foliar and on-seed use of imidacloprid pesticides should either prevent or limit the risks to honeybees and other pollinators from the chemical, Canadian and U.S. regulators say in a new early-stage risk assessment. Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Wednesday released […] Read more

Canola, Crops, Fruit/Vegetables, Reuters, Spring Wheat

U.S. court finds EPA wrong to approve sulfoxaflor over bee risks

By Carey Gillam September 10, 2015

Reuters — A U.S. appeals court ruled on Thursday that federal regulators erred in allowing an insecticide developed by Dow AgroSciences onto the market, canceling its approval and giving environmentalists a major victory. The ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, in San Francisco, is significant for commercial beekeepers and others […] Read more

Black Diamond rancher Ben Campbell doesn’t know what the future holds for his fledgling beef business — but he’s confident enough to leave his engineering career to pursue it.

Crops, Livestock

Forging deep bonds — one customer at a time

It’s a whole different world, but these Alberta farm entrepreneurs  say direct marketing gets in your blood

By Jennifer Blair July 6, 2015

Grazed Right Grass Fed Beef / Black Diamond As one of four children of one of seven brothers who jointly own the family ranch, Ben Campbell knew a farming career was simply out of reach. Even if he had the land base, the cost of starting a commercial-size herd is huge. “Cattle are so expensive […] Read more

This poster on bee health is one of several on offer at the Bees Matter website.

Livestock, News

Ag groups launch bee initiative

Bees Matter is offering free seeds for pollinator-friendly gardens — and information on bees

By Staff June 23, 2015

A new program called Buzzing Gardens is offering Canadians free seeds to plant pollinator-friendly gardens. The program is an initiative of Bees Matter, a group consisting of chemical and agricultural groups including CropLife Canada, Bayer CropScience, Syngenta, the Canola Council of Canada, the Canadian Seed Trade Association, and the Canadian Honey Council. “The agricultural community […] Read more

Livestock, Reuters

Tiny number of bees account for most crop pollination, study finds

By Alister Doyle June 17, 2015

Oslo | Reuters — Just two per cent of wild bee species do almost 80 per cent of their work in pollinating crops, according to a study on Tuesday that outlined simple measures for farmers to attract star insects to safeguard food production. The international report, based on 90 studies in five continents, said governments […] Read more

JBS says U.S. IPO would not change headquarters

Prairie cash wheat: CWRS prices up, durum largely down

U.S. grains: Soy futures rise as China offers tariff waivers

GFM Network News