1. HONEY BEES
WE NEED THEM

2. WHY ARE HONEY BEES IMPORTANT?
Every third bite of food we eat is due to pollination
Pollination 18,000 acres of Blueberries, Cranberries, Raspberries in Fraser Valley.
Fruits/Berries – Creston & Okanagan
No Pollination = no fruit – no nuts – no hay? – no vegetables?

3. What’s Happening to the Bees?
1. USA – CCD – 50% Loss of Colonies
Stress – Movement – Mites – Nutrition
Virus – resistant new strains?
Nosema Ceranae
2. BC – 50% Overwinter Loss 2014
Long hard winter w/cold spring
Nosema
Insecticides – systemic types
Loss of forage

4. CRESTON VARROA MITES

10. You want me to be a beekeeper?
WE NEED BEEKEEPERS
You want me to be a beekeeper?

11. THE BEE INSPECTOR

12. Honey Bees are Regulated
“BEE ACT” OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
Register apiary sites
Permit to Sell Bees and Equipment
Disease: Inspection & Control

13. A Healthy Bee Yard

14. START UP COSTS Suit, hat, veil, & gloves $150. Bees (2 colonies) $400.
Tools (hive tool & smoker) $50.
Honey Supers (4) $100.
Extractor $300.
Uncapping Knife $100.
Misc. (Medications/Mites) $50.
TOTAL $1100.

15. GETTING STARTED IN BEES
ECOMONIC OPPORTUNITIES
Honey – 100 lbs/Colony = $300
Wax - .5 Kg / Col = $50
Pollination per Col = $100
Pollen = $20/Kg
Royal Jelly = $250/L
Venom = $100/gm
Queen Production = $20 ea
Packages & Nucs = $100 ea
Propolis = $300 / Kg

16. WHERE DO I FIND IT?? Bees: Dave Johnson – Nelson/Proctor 250 229 4765
Books: Doug McCutcheon – Armstrong
Equip: AB Honey Producers – Edmonton
Stawn’s Honey Supplies – Vernon
Medications: Medivet – High River
Information: Lance (Bee Inspector)
Infobasket: www/infobasket.gov.bc.ca

17. Kootenay Fall Fair

18. Kootenay Kountry Honey Product

19. Kootenay Kountry Honey Product

20. Kootenay Kountry Honey Product

21. Kootenay Kountry Honey Product

22. Kootenay Kountry Honey Product

23. Kootenay Kountry Honey Product