Manitoba Beekeepers' Association

Resolutions Approved at the MBA AGM 16 November 2011

 

See each resolution for its’ status or associated board action.

 

1. TEMPORARY WORKERS     

 WHEREAS Western Canada has a growing and fundamental need for temporary foreign workers to maintain a healthy honey industry, and 

WHEREAS the Canadian honey industry will not function to its full potential without temporary foreign workers that can be accessed in a timely and forthright manner and,  

WHEREAS recent changes to the Foreign Worker application process are not fully understood by Federal Government staff nor producers,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED That MBA encourage CHC to lobby Agriculture and Agri Food Canada (AAFC) and Citizenship & Immigration Canada (CIC) to instruct or train staff to be more supportive of Canadian beekeepers requests for qualified temporary foreign workers, plus streamline the application process.

a) December 8, 2011 this item assigned to Canadian Honey Council for presentation at their January 26, 2012 meeting.

 

2. MORE PEST TREATMENTS

WHEREAS Manitoba producers continue to face high overwinter losses, and

WHEREAS producers continue to be concerned about the limited number of options for varroa mite and/or virus control,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that MBA continue supporting evaluation of a variety of treatments to address specific needs within the Manitoba environment.

a) December 8, 2011, this item referred to MBA Pest and Pest Management Committee.

b) March 14, 2012, MBA requested PMRA to provide Emergency Use Registration of Apivar as another option to the recently approved Formic Acid (MAQS) varroa treatment.

 

3. GROUP FIRE INSURANCE

WHEREAS Manitoba producers infrequently face losses due to fire, and

WHEREAS some insurance companies may be reluctant to follow through on new replacement items lost or damaged in a fire and,

WHEREAS often insurance companies offer economical coverage for members of a group,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that MBA determine if an insurance company could provide a quote on a suitable group policy as a MBA membership benefit.

a) December 8, 2011, this assigned to MBA Safety Net Committee for evaluation of options. Possibility of March 2012 Workshop to evaluate options and current gaps with members of MBA.

 

4. MULTIPLE EMERGENCY USE PRODUCTS

WHEREAS Manitoba producers may have specific weather or bee pest situations and,

WHEREAS producers may desire more options for treatments deemed easier to use,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that MBA have Canadian Honey Council encourage Pest Management Regulatory Agency to permit multiple Emergency Use Registrations for the Honey Bee Industry.

a) December 8, 2011, item referred to Canadian Honey Council for consideration at their January 27, 2012 meeting.

 

5. EXPEDITE BEEOLOGICS PRODUCTS

WHEREAS Current Honey Bee virus control research at University of Manitoba appears promising using an “RNAi” technology similar to that of Beeologics and,

WHEREAS Monsanto has recently acquired control of Beeologics,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED That MBA approach Canadian Honey Council to encourage Monsanto to expedite availability of Beeologics products used for virus control in the Honey Bee Industry.

a) December 8, 2011, this referred to Canadian Honey Council for consideration at their January 26, 2012 meeting.

 

6. REMOVE HIVE CAP FOR CHC LEVY

WHEREAS current MBA regulations exempt levy amounts above 1000 colonies and,

WHEREAS Canadian Honey Council hive levy for 2012 will increase to $0.13/colony,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: that MBA seek regulation changes to permit applying Canadian Honey Council levy to producers with 1001 or greater colony count.

a) December 8, 2011, this referred to MBA Fee/Levy Committee for action.

b) December 14, 2011, Manitoba Farm Products Marketing Council advised of MBA plan to revise current admin fee regulation in early 2012.

c) February 29, 2012. MBA met with MFPMC to present information on the sector, MBA Authority, and present the Order for approval.

d) March 7, 2012. MBA Amendment Order approved by MFPMC and registered as Regulation 19/2012 and published in the Manitoba Gazette on March 17, 2012.

 

 

7. APPRECIATION     

WHEREAS: Beekeepers appreciate the inspection program and its assessment of both hobby and commercial operations, and

WHEREAS: Extension Staff support the beekeeping industry through organizing education and research symposiums,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: that MBA inform the Manitoba Ag Minister of our appreciation for the work Rhéal and David do for our industry.

a) December 8, 2011, this referred to President Allan Campbell for actioning.

b) March 14, 2012, Letter sent to Min Ron Kostyshyn, welcoming to his new position and expressing apprecistion for staff in “crops” section of his department.

 

8 APIVAR EUR            

WHEREAS Provinces across Canada, successfully applied for and received approval from Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) for Emergency Use Registration (EUR) of Apivar for the period 1July 2011 to 30 June 2012, and

WHEREAS producers continue to be concerned about the limited number of options for varroa mite control, and require the treatment option that Apivar provides

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that if Apivar is not registered by the expiration date of the EUR by June 30^th, 2012, MBA work with others to seek Emergency Use Registration of Apivar for 2012-2013 season.

a) December 8, 2011, this referred to MBA’s Pest and Pest Management Committee for actioning during 2012.

b) March 14, 2012, MBA submitted a Letter of Support to PMRA. LOS to be included in the Application package being prepared on behalf of all provinces (except Newfoundland & Labrador-no varroa) by Saskatchewan. MBA LOS to be included in the package as well.

 

9 BOARD SIZE

WHEREAS the amount of producers eligible for the MBA board is not changing significantly and,

WHEREAS many eligible members have already served terms on the MBA board,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that MBA determine the feasibility of operating with a 7 member board.

a) December 8, 2011, this referred to Fee/Levy Committee to review MBA bylaws and develop an appropriate plan for presentation at 2012 Annual Meeting for approval.

 

10 PEST NAMING

WHEREAS additional honey bee pests are becoming more prevalent than in the past and,

WHEREAS there is interest in importing genetics into countries such as Chile,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that MBA support s naming of Asian Mite (Tropilallaps) nationally as a notifiable pest.

a) december 8, 2011, this referred to Pest and Pest Management Committee for discussion with MAFRI staff.

Resolutions Approved at the MBA AGM 17 November 2010

See each resolution for its’ current status (Its’ associated board action)

1. SMALL HIVE BEETLE IN CANADA

WHEREAS Small Hive Beetle (Aethina tumida) was discovered on September 8, 2010 in Ontario, in an area close to the Michigan, USA border, and

WHEREAS Ontario quarantined and monitored some areas for infestation, and

WHEREAS although it appears this pest failed to establish an endemic population where invaded previously in MB and AB, and

WHEREAS on going investigation into the possible establishment of SHB in QC, is pointing toward the beetle not being able to establish a endemic breeding population, and

WHEREAS honey bees move interprovincially such as ON to Maritimes, ON to MB/AB, MB to BC, and BC to AB/MB,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that MBA work closely with other provinces to ensure protocol flexibility while mitigating risk of SHB dispersal during interprovincial movement of honey bees.

a) Dec 8, 2010: To Stock Replacement Committee

b) May 2011: CHC working with CFIA on import protocols needed for Hawaii Queens, since SHB found in Spring 2011 shipments in Alberta and Manitoba. Shipping containers destined for Canada need to be stored in freezer prior to use.

c) May 2011: Ontario reported survival of SHB and are maintaining their quarantine zone resytrictions. MBA monitoring ongoing activities and maintaining communications with Ontario staff.

d) October 2011: Ontario has expanded existing quarantine zone slightly as SHB found adjacent to original zone, thus maintaining control of potential spread. Quebec continue monitoring of original sites after eradication of original SHB surviving winter.

2. FUMAGILIN-B LABEL EXPANSION.

WHEREAS Studies are underway by Dr. Pernal, Beaverlodge, AB, on how best to apply Fumagilin-B to control Nosema ceranae, and

WHEREAS preliminary results of the three year study are promising, and

WHEREAS Manitoba producers are anxious to have effective treatment options for Nosema disease control, and

WHEREAS MBA has recently encouraged Medivet to expand label directions to include additional methods of applying Fumagilin-B,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That MBA continue communications with Medivet Pharmaceuticals regarding timing of possible label expansion for Fumagilin-B.

a) Dec 8, 2010: To Pest and Pest management Committee

b) E-mail correspondence from Medivet confirming changes pending research confirmation

c) March 2011: Dr Steve Pernal spoke on Nosema research at MBA Symposium March 2011. He noted research data detailed in CHC Annual Report to be distributed with Hivelights in April.

3. APIVAR EUR

WHEREAS Provinces across Canada, under co-ordination of CHC, successfully applied for and received approval from PMRA for Emergency Use Registration of Apivar for the period 1July 2010 to 30 June 2011, and

WHEREAS producers continue to be concerned about the limited number of options for varroa mite control, and require the treatment option that Apivar provides

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that if Apivar is not registered by the expiration date of the EUR by June 30^th, 2011, MBA work with other provinces to seek Emergency Use Registration of Apivar for 2011-2012 season.

a) Dec 8, 2010: To Pest and Pest management Committee

b) May 17, 2011: Letter to PMRA supporting Emergency Use Registration extension for Apivar.

c) June 22,2011: Response from PMRA that EUR has been approved for July 2011 to June 30, 2012.

d) Summer 2011: MBA monitoring situation whereby full registration of Mite Away Quick Strips is being persued by the manufacturer.

e) September 2011: Due to late spring causing late fall honey flows, MBA sought EUR for MAQS. PMRA rejected this on Sept 7, in favour of keeping resources focused on full registration for fall.

4. QUEEN AVAILABILITY

WHEREAS Manitoba producers are needing honey bee queens in early spring, and

WHEREAS Hawaii, a traditional source, discovered Small Hive Beetle during spring 2010, and

WHEREAS small hive beetle has been discovered in MB, AB, QC and has appeared to fail to establish endemic population, and

WHEREAS protocol revisions were necessary to permit timely importation of Hawaii queens while mitigating risk of acquiring Small Hive Beetle in Canada, and

WHEREAS finding a replacement source of 80,000 quality queens if Hawaii were no longer permitted to export queen to Canada would be next to impossible at this point in time,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that even if risk mitigating conditions placed on importing queens from Hawaii cannot fully guarantee “zero” risk of acquiring Small Hive Beetle, Manitoba producers support continued importation of queens from Hawaii.

a)Dec 8, 2010: To Stock replacement Commttee

b) May 2011: CHC working on protocol revision with CFIA since SHB found in Queen shipments during May 2011 for both Alberta and Manitoba. Hawaii to store shipping crates in freezer proir to using for Canada imports.

c) June 2011: Queen imports received from Hawaii during June have been found free of any signs of SHB.

d) August 2011: MBA continues to moitor sitation in Hawaii (Apr 2010), as SHB is now found on Oahu (Nov 2010), Moloka (May 2011) and most recently on East Maui (July 2011). MAFRI is working with CFIA to inspect all queens imported from the area. After initial discovery of star larvae, no more evidence has been observed during 100% inspection levels.

5. INSPECTION PROGRAM

WHEREAS MBA contributes an annual Inspection Program Cost Recovery amount of $12,000 to the Province, and

WHEREAS MBA desires to reduce the Cost Recovery expense in it annual budget, and

WHEREAS MBA has negotiated with MAFRI to test a pilot program to bypass for one year, those producers having a disease free history, to see if inspection costs could be reduced while maintaining a reasonable inspection level, and

WHEAREAS MBA recognizes some producers are concern about missing a third party assessment under the traditional inspection program, and

WHEREAS the pilot program appears to have merit,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED That MBA negotiate with the Province for a reduction in Cost Recovery amount from $12,000 to $10,000 by adopting a revised inspection criteria.

a)Dec 8, 2010: To Safety Net Committee

b) October: Pause in activity on this item as Small Hive Beetle and other issues may need inspection attention in 2012.

6. TEMPORARY WORKERS

WHEREAS Western Canada has a growing and fundamental need for both skilled and unskilled temporary foreign workers to maintain a healthy honey industry, and

WHEREAS Canadian embassies in other countries, such as Manila, have been extremely difficult to work with whenever many of our workers have been denied work visas for no credible reason, and

WHEREAS embassy staff, when pressed, reportedly admitted potential employees were deemed a ‘flight risk’ when actually there was a lack of communication and sufficient information gathered for processing applications, and

WHEREAS the Canadian honey industry will not function to it’s full potential without temporary foreign workers that can be accessed in a timely and forthright manner.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED That MBA lobby AAFC and Citizenship & Immigration Canada to instruct embassy staff to be more supportive of Canadian beekeepers requests for qualified temporary foreign workers.

a)Dec 8, 2010: To Foreign Worker Committee

b) September 2011: Canadian Honey Council working on this issue. Federal Government procedure revisions have created difficulties in acquiring summer helpers. Appears to be political pressure to reduce temporary worker use.

7. APPRECIATION

WHEREAS: Beekeepers appreciate the inspection program and its assessment of both hobby and commercial operations, and

WHEREAS: Extension Staff support the beekeeping industry through organizing education and research symposiums,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: that MBA inform the MB Ag Min or our appreciation for the work Rhéal and David do on our behalf

a) Dec 8 2010: MBA Board Chair to action

b) Jan 7 2011: Appreciation letter from MBA president faxed to Min Struthers (Resolution action complete)

8. CHILE QUEENS

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: the MBA support efforts to have the CFIA negotiate a protocol with their counterparts in Chile, to allow Canadian sourced Apis Melifera genetic material to be imported into Chile for Queen Breeding purposes.

a) Dec 8, 2010: MBA Chair to clarify resolution intent prior to sending to Hive Health Committee of CHC

b) October 2011: Delegation from CHile to visit Manitoba to determine how quality genetics can be replicated under Chilean conditions and within their Queen Breeding program, since Chile is still SHB and African Hybrid Bee free.