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Sarnia

Ontario Beekeepers Say Starvation Biggest Single Cause For Winter Losses

Figures released by the provincial apiarist line up pretty closely with Ontario beekeeper losses reported earlier by the Canadian Association of Professional Apiculturists.

The national group only surveys commercial beekeepers - the provincial apiarist surveys both commercial and small-scale producers.

The national survey put winter losses in Ontario at 38 per cent.

The Ontario report has commercial losses at 38 per cent - small scale producer losses at 37 per cent.

While a significant drop from the 2013-14 winter losses - that's still above the industry's target of 15 per cent.

The factor cited by the most Ontario producers for winter loss was starvation at just over 19 per cent, followed by weak colonies in the fall and poor queens, both at about 15 per cent.

About 9 per cent of the beekeepers blamed their losses on chronic pesticide damage while 6 per cent blamed acute pesticide damage.

The biggest winter losses were reported in Northern Ontario, at just over 63 per cent.

The south - including Wellington, Huron, Perth and Waterloo - had 44 per cent losses.

The central region, including Bruce and Grey, came in at just over 34 per cent.

Beekeepers in the east, at about 25 per cent, and the southwest at 23 per cent reported the lowest winter losses.

In both reports, the data is voluntarily self-reported by the beekeepers themselves and has not been verified by OMAFRA or any other independent body.

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