3 minute read
Introducing the Canadian Beekeepers Federation
A new and ambitious organization that will represent the nation’s commercial-scale beekeepers.
By Kieran Brett, Bootprint Marketing, on behalf of Canadian Beekeepers Federation
Facing a series of ongoing challenges, Canada’s commercial beekeepers are calling for new approaches that will deliver progress and success for their operations in the coming years.
A growing number of these beekeepers are putting their support behind a new organization: the Canadian Beekeepers Federation (CBF).
“In Canada, there is a wide gap between commercial beekeepers and hobby beekeepers,” says CBF President Mike Paradis of Paradis Honey in Girouxville, Alberta. “In fact, 20% of beekeepers manage 98% of the colonies in Canada. We represent beekeepers with between 500 hives all the way up to 15,000 hives.”
Paradis explains that while the hobbyist bee movement has been positive for the industry, the needs of commercial beekeepers are starkly different. He questions whether the Canadian Honey Council is prepared and equipped to engage with commercial beekeepers’ biggest challenges.
In Paradis’s view, this has taken place against a backdrop of serious production and policy issues in recent years, including:
Chronically high overwintering losses, with the U.S. border closed to bee package imports and increasingly problematic air transport from the southern hemisphere.
Inexpensive, poor-quality imported honey taking market share from pure, authentic Canadian honey. Technology that lags far behind what today’s commercial beekeeper needs, in areas such as hive health and extraction efficiency.
A Canadian bee research program that’s under-funded and poorly managed compared to the more ambitious and extensive bee research in the U.S.
Limited and often costly chemical options to protect hives from disease and insect threats.
Counterproductive trade rules between Canada and the U.S. and between Canadian provinces.
“The big issue overall is that the commercial beekeeper needs to find ways to stay in business,” says Paradis. “From winter losses to trade and research, what we’re doing now in Canada isn’t working for the commercial operator. We need fresh ideas and bold action.” As Paradis and others introduce the new Canadian Beekeepers Federation to commercial operators, most are quick to jump on board. A planned website and communications campaign will raise awareness with beekeepers, associations with shared interests and government stakeholders.
