February 2013

Walrus Magazine: The Fight of the Bumblebee

Honey bee colonies are collapsing around the world, putting food production in danger.

Local gardeners raising mason bees for almond industry

The almond industry, California’s biggest agricultural exporter, desperately needs more pollinating bees.

National Honey Board funds research on honey bee health

Firestone, Colo., February 25, 2013 – The National Honey Board

Bayer-funded research finds no link between canola seed treatments and bee poisoning

The Western Producer:"The study comes at a time when European Union countries are banning or considering restrictions on three popular neonicotinoi

CBC: Canadian nabbed in honey import scheme

A Canadian man is among five people nabbed in "Project Honeygate," a U.S.

The Australian: Bees' electrical 'sense' nets nectar.

Bees use electrical fields as a 'sixth sense' to zero in on nectar-rich flowers, a British study has discovered. 

Burgessville beekeeper convinced pesticides responsible for his bee losses

John VanBlyderveen, owner of Oxford Honey and Supplies just outside of Burgessville, estimates 95% of his hives will die before spring because of t

Business Week: To revive honey bees, Europe proposes a pesticide ban

"For food science researchers, finding the culprit for bee colony collapse disorder has become the equivalent of discovering a cure for cancer.

Space technology may root out counterfeit honey

A laser device developed in the hopes of measuring carbon on Mars may soon be used here on Earth to root out counterfeit foods – and make sure that

Almond growers pay record prices amid bee shortage

From the Bakersfield Californian. This year's almond pollination may well set records, not only in terms of hive prices but also for bee colony los

Exposure to multiple cholinergic pesticides impairs olfactory memory

The Journal of Experimental Biology: "Pesticides are important agricultural tools often used in combination to avoid resistance in target pest spec

National Geographic's: Are honey bees losing their way?

Excerpt: A new study shows that long-term exposure to a combination of certain pesticides might impair the bee's ability to carry out its pollen mi

P.C. critic says splitting up OMAFRA was a big mistake

In an interview with Farms.com, Ontario PC Agriculture Critic Ernie Hardeman shares his reaction to the change to the agriculture portfolio.

Almond farmers cope with dwindling bee population

In the next two weeks Paul Betancourt's almond trees will begin to blossom.

G&M: Wynne courts rural Ontario with pledges on farm regulation, infrastructure

Kathleen Wynne pledged Wednesday to look at streamlining complicated regulations governing farms and provide a stable, continuous stream of money t

Pollinator Protection: Reducing Risk from Treated Seed

The Pest Management Regulatory Agency has has released a report to outline measures to reduce risk to pollinators from exposure to dust generated d

U of California offers free on-line course for pollination

The University of California is offering a free on-line course for beekeepers who are (or wish to) provide pollination services.  The course covers

Australian beekeepers facing worst season in 50 years

Summer is the peak time for honey production, but beekeepers say a lack of spring rain has led to their worst season in 50 years.

PMRA Report to CAPA

The Pest Management Regulatory Agency's (PMRA)'s presentation to the Canadian Association of Professional Apiculturists (CAPA) points out the impor