Northern Alberta Beekeepers Hope for Honey Comeback

0:00It's April 19, Canada news today starts now, AI powered and ready. Northern Alberta beekeepers are buzzing with hope for a honey comeback this year after some rough seasons. In the peace region, yields dropped 52% in 2024. The biggest hit in the province, according to the latest survey, that's left a bee areas scrambling, but folks are eyeing a rebound come summer harvest. Droud has been the main villain, drying up nectar and flowers and hitting the peace river basin hard through 2024 and 2025. Add in Varroa mines getting tougher on treatments, brutal winters wiping out up to 45% of some hives and wildfire smoke grounding bees from foraging. All that stacks up to weaker colonies province wide. Beekeepers feel it in their wallets, big time. One farmer says, hitting around 100 pounds per hive just covers wages, fuel and insurance for the year. No honey means no profit, especially when selling to places like Japan and the US.

1:00Nationally, colony losses average just under 40% last winter, putting extra pressure on the industry. Now things live brighter with more snow on the ground than last April and good moisture for crops. One operation overwintered hives in southern British Columbia's Okanagan and reports a strong start after a mild winter. Survey shows slight upticks in production last year, fueling that optimism. July and August approach. These pros with decades in the game are crossing fingers for steady weather to finally turn the tide and fill those.