Bee Health – Protection

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


Donate to the Barry Fingler Memorial Fund Today!

The Barry Fingler Memorial fund was established to remember the Provincial Assistant Apiarist who passed away from brain Cancer in the early 90’s  (Fingler Obit 1995 smr MBA newsl). Barry was a friend and colleague of many in the industry. As an association we formed the BFF (Barry Fingler Research Fund) to pursue research initiatives in a long term scale; a fund that could be accessed when needed for board approved initiatives. To date(Feb 2018) the fund sits at just over $130,000. As an endowment fund we need to break a somewhat larger margin to start more initiatives. By Donating […]


MASC overwintering insurance program

With new changes to the MASC overwintering program the MBA would like to make its members aware that the program has a longer measured benefit for reporting good years as the threshold for a payout goes up on average to match your measurable level of loss year to year. For more information follow the link below or contact the agent at your local MASC office. https://www.masc.mb.ca/masc.nsf/program_overwinter_bee_mortality.html


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 […]


Bee Sample Submissions – Update 2015

Manitoba Beekeepers can submit bee samples for diagnostic services to the following labs this year. Please see contact information below. Laboratory Diagnostic Services: Manitoba: Bee Diagnostic and Disease Monitoring programs: Daryl Wright Phone: 204-229-9343 (Winnipeg) Email: d.l.wright@nullshaw.ca National: National Bee Diagnostic Centre P.O. Box 1118 1 Research Road Beaverlodge, AB T0H 0C0 Phone: 1-780-357-7737 (Alberta) Fax: 1-780-354-8080 Email: NBDC@nullgprc.ab.ca Website: www.thenbdc.ca


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 […]