Reuters — Honeybees, critical agents in the pollination of key U.S. crops, disappeared at a staggering rate over the last year, according to a new government report that comes as regulators, environmentalists and agribusinesses try to reverse the decline. Losses of managed honeybee colonies hit 42.1 per cent from April 2014 through April 2015, up […] Read more
U.S. honeybee losses soar over last year, USDA finds
Wild pollinators earn their keep on the farm
Wild pollinators may boost yields and help crops mature more uniformly, and also are a natural source of pest protection
Reading Time: 3 minutes It’s crop-planning season and that means it’s a good time for making plans to create a wild pollinator habitat near your crops. Having a strong pollinator population can offer a benefit to crops, said Mark Wonneck, an ecologist at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Calgary. Bees are an important part of both alfalfa production and […] Read more
Three beekeeping courses offered this winter
There is one course for beginners, an intermediate course, and a one-day food safety workshop
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development is offering three apiculture extension courses for both new and seasoned apiarists. The beginner’s beekeeping course focuses on the biology and management of honeybees in Alberta. During two days of classroom work in November and a half-day in the field in May, students will learn the practical aspects of purchasing […] Read more
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