Apiculture – Publications and resources

Colony and disease management

Management publications

• American Foulbrood
• Beekeeping in Western Canada includes information about getting started in beekeeping, spring management of bees, winter feeding, honey extraction, honey bee health, and marketing your beeswax, pollen and honey crops.
• Bloom guide: hybrid seed canola
• European Foulbrood
• Honey Bee Diseases and Pests Third Edition
• Honey Bee Diseases and Pests: Best management practices
• Seed canola pollinators: a communication guide for agronomists and beekeepers
• Seed canola pollinators: a communication guide for seed companies and growers
• The Small Hive Beetle (a UK National Bee Unit Publication)

Bee Health app

The Bee Health app is based on current scientific knowledge to address honey bee diseases and pests. It is a handy resource to help beekeepers and other users to detect, diagnose, manage and treat honey bee diseases and pests. It includes pictures and treatment options which will aid beekeepers in adopting appropriate pest management practices. Thus, beekeepers can improve bee health and enhance on-farm food safety and biosecurity practices in their operations. Download the Bee Health app.

Beekeeper information

• Beekeeping for Beginners
• Honey Bees and Winterkill
• How to Reduce Bee Poisonings from Pesticides
• Provincial apiculturist annual reports
• Purchasing honey bees or equipment in Alberta: questions to ask and things to consider
• Responding to accidents involving honey bees: a guide for first responders
• Beekeeper/owner preparations for dealing with vehicle accidents

Economics and surveys

Alberta's industry

• Economics of Beekeeping in Alberta
• Livestock statistics
• Estimation of Potential Economic Losses for the Alberta Beekeeping Industry Due to Winter Losses in 2007

National industry statistics

• Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada: Horticulture sector reports
• CAPA: Annual Colony Loss Reports

Alberta beekeeper annual survey

To address some of the data gaps and information needs of the beekeeping industry in Alberta, each year the Statistics and Data Development Branch conducts a survey of beekeepers in the province. In particular, the survey is used to assist in the generation of provincial and regional estimates for selected honey variables (for example, colony numbers, yield, production).

• Alberta beekeepers’ survey results

Additional resources

Beekeeping groups/associations

• Alberta Beekeeping Commission (ABC)
• Calgary District Beekeeping Association
• Edmonton District Beekeeping Association
• Grande Prairie Beekeepers Club
• Lethbridge Bee Enthusiasts
• Red Deer & Area Beekeepers Association
• United Beekeepers of Alberta

Federal bodies

• Canadian Food Inspection Agency
• Pest Management Regulatory Agency

Honey bee laboratory testing facilities

• National Bee Diagnostic Centre

Other related organizations/websites

Canadian

• Alberta Farmers’ Market Association
• Alberta Honey Producers – Bee Maid Honey
• Canadian Association of Professional Apiculturists (CAPA)
• Canadian Honey Council (CHC)
• Pollinator Partnership Canada
• Seeds of Diversity
• The Canadian Pollination Initiative
• University of Guelph
• University of Manitoba

International

• Apimondia
• Bee Health - eXtension
• Bee Informed
• United States Department of Agriculture
• University of Florida
• University of Minnesota

Contact

Connect with the bee team:

Edmonton

Email: [email protected]
Address:
Crop Diversification Centre North
17507 Fort Road
Edmonton, Alberta T5Y 6H3

Lethbridge

Email: [email protected]

Address:
Lethbridge Research Centre
100, 5401 1 Avenue South
Lethbridge, Alberta T1J 4V6