Breaking News: Ontario suffered Canada’s worst winter bee losses last winter Ontario beekeepers lost 58% of their bees last winter, more than three times the average for the rest of Canada according to a new report from CAPA the Canadian Association of Professional Apculturists (capabees/content/uploads/2013/06/2014-CAPA-Statement-on-Colony-Losses.pdf). To put this startling number in perspective, beekeepers consider 15% an acceptable maximum overwinter loss. While the long, cold winter contributed to losses across Canada, Ontario’s excessive winter losses are startling. Pesticide exposure continues to be a major concern for Ontario Beekeepers as Ontario grows almost 70% of Canada’s corn and soy, both of which crops are heavily treated with neoncotinoids. These systemic pesticides applied to corn and soy seeds were connected to bee kills in Ontario and Quebec in both 2012 and 2013 by Health Canada. CAPA confirms there are concerns amongst some beekeepers, particularly in Ontario and Quebec, that exposure to neonicotinoid insecticides during the spring and summer may lead to increased stress to colonies contributing to winterloss. “Ontario beekeepers have been devastated by exposure of colonies to these highly toxic pesticides, ‘says OBA president Dan Davidson, ‘not only do they kill bees outright but exposure in the hive through contaminated pollen almost guarantees they will not survive the winter” Earlier this month the Ontario government indicated that they will take steps to limit the use of neonicotionids by putting into place a permit system. In Ontario nearly 100% of corn seeds and 65% of soy seeds are sold with neonicotinoid pretreatments. However OMAF crop experts have said that only 10 to 20% of the corn and soybean acres are actually at risk of most of the soil pests on the product labels. “Beekeepers cannot sustain these losses and many will have to leave the business if these losses continue’, says Tibor Szabo, OBA Vice President and queen breeder. “the government of Ontario must take the initiative for the 2015 growing season now if we are to have a sustainable industry and the pollinators we need for our fresh fruits and vegetables.” To read the OBA press release in full: ontariobee/sites/ontariobee/files/OBA%20Over%20Winter%20Loss%20Media%20Release.pdf capabees/content/uploads/2013/06/2014-CAPA-Statement-on-Colony-Losses.pdf
Posted on: Wed, 23 Jul 2014 21:32:01 +0000
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