Bee Health – Protection

This section deals with hive health, pollinator protection, bee overwinter insurance and wildlife protection.


Suite of Useful Aps for Beekeepers

The Manitoba Beekeepers Association would like to point out some helpful Aps available to beekeepers big and small: Fistly the CHC ap: excellent for staying conected to activities around the CHC: the App also is an easy access to the Bee Bio-security Handbooks and excellent management record templates to follow     The BeeConnected ap was developed in collaboration with crop life to create an easy access point for those beekeepers who are not connected to the applicator. Applicators who are laying chemical can send out a notification to alarm any near by beekeepers.     The Bee Health ap was […]


Voluntary Pesticide Incident Reporting – 2014

Beekeepers in Manitoba can report pesticide incidents that result in observable symptoms or effect on honey bees. Incidents may include in-hive as well as field crop incidents. For general information on how to file a pesticide incident report you can contact Rheal or David. Please note that the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) is ultimately responsible for investigating and regulating pesticides. The Pesticide Incident Reporting Form (Environmental Incident) used to report pesticide impact to bees can be found on the following website: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/pest/part/protect-proteger/incident/index-eng.php or contact the Pest Management Information Service Centre: 1-800-267-6315.


Neonicotinoid – Position of MBA

BACKGROUND Neonicotinoids is a class of systemic pesticides that have been linked recently to pollinator decline primarily in Ontario and Quebec. This insecticide can be applied in various ways such as a seed coating (i.e. on corn, canola, soybean, winter wheat, etc), as a foliar spray and as a soil drench or granules. Systemic pesticides are absorbed into plant tissues and are able to migrate through the entire plant. The pesticide affects the insects’ central nervous system resulting in paralysis and death. The following are examples of insecticides found in the Chloronicotinyl insectides (a.k.a. Neonicotinoid): Acetamiprid, Clothianidin, Imidacloprid, Thiacloprid and […]


Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is a growing concern for beekeepers in Manitoba and some beekeepers have contracted the serious disease. The Blacklegged Tick is a carrier and producers need to watch for this tiny tick from early spring to late fall. Information on Lyme disease and the risks in Manitoba can be found on the website of Manitoba Health: http://www.gov.mb.ca/health/lyme/ The site includes access to a “Lyme Disease Manitoba Health Brochure”, and “Lyme Disease Environmental Health Fact Sheet”. Also, CBC’s “The Nature of Things with David Suzuki” had an episode on Lyme disease which can be found online (originally aired Oct. 10, 2013). “Ticked Off: […]


Liability Insurance for Beekeepers

INDIVIDUAL BEEKEEPER LIABILITY INSURANCE FOR GROUPS Larger Beekeeping Operations: Often Large Commercial Beekeeping Operations have an overall Farm Insurance policy to cover all elements of their business, while some beekeepers may be able to add an endorsement to their Home Insurance policies to cover beekeeping only on their own property. For those desiring coverage for bees on their property or when moved to someone else’s property, this could help you. Hobby Beekeepers: For those classified as Hobby Beekeepers, having a few hives of bees in their back yard, and neighbouring houses close by, this could be the protection needed. This […]


Voluntary Pesticide Incident Reporting to PMRA

The Pesticide Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) has a website resource for reporting pesticide incidents. The website can be found as follows: (http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/pest/part/protect-proteger/incident/index-eng.php) It includes the following items: -What is a pesticide incident? -Why report a pesticide incident? -What happens to the information provided? -What is the difference between voluntary and mandatory reporting? -How to report a pesticide incident -Other resources For example, a pesticide incident may include any unintended or unexpected effect of a pesticide on honey bees.


Overwinter Bee Mortality Insurance

  Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation (MASC) INSURANCE: OVERWINTER BEE MORTALITY INSURANCE PROGRAM (NEW FOR 2011 !) Purpose • This  program insures a producer’s bees against non-manageable abnormal wintering losses, including weather-related losses, diseases and pests where there are no adequate means of control. Eligibility • A producer who resides and operates an apiary in Manitoba and is registered as a beekeeper under The Bee Act (Manitoba) is eligible for this program. • Eligible producers must operate a minimum of 50 colonies. • Strong colonies (placed in either indoor or outdoor storage) and nuclear colonies placed in indoor storage are eligible for […]