Nova Scotia is enhancing its support for local beekeepers this year with substantial financial incentives aimed at expanding and sustaining the province’s bee colonies.
Through the Apiculture Sustainable Growth and Health Program, eligible beekeepers can now receive up to $50,000—a notable increase from the previous cap of $27,000 in 2023.
This financial uplift is part of a broader initiative to encourage beekeepers to expand their operations, particularly in pollinating commercial crops. Each additional hive used for such purposes could now earn beekeepers $200, doubling the incentive from last year.
The program also supports the acquisition of essential beekeeping components like packaged bees, queen bees, queen cells, and nucleus colonies.
"The Apiculture Sustainable Growth and Health Program is a vital part of the maintenance and growth of Nova Scotia's honeybee sector, which supports our broader agriculture industry. This program helps beekeepers continue to develop sustainable practices," stated Duncan Wetzel, President of the Nova Scotia Beekeepers Association.
This initiative is funded through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a $3.5-billion collaboration between federal, provincial, and territorial governments running from 2023 to 2028. It aims to boost Canada's agricultural sector's competitiveness, innovation, and resilience.
The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, expressed his support, saying, "Beekeepers play a vitally important role in ensuring the health and sustainability of our food supply and agriculture sector here in Canada. With investments through the Apiculture Sustainable Growth and Health program, we're making sure Nova Scotia beekeepers can continue to use best management practices, modernize their technologies, grow their hives and expand their operations to keep the bee industry strong."
Agriculture Minister Greg Morrow emphasized the vital role that bees play. "Bees are important pollinators for the province's fruit crops, particularly wild blueberries and apples, which are among our top agricultural exports. Together with our federal partners, we're working to make sure Nova Scotia farmers have the support they need to maintain and grow the number of hives and bees in this province – helping farmers to stay sustainable and keep producing healthy, local food."
He noted the collaborative efforts with federal partners to ensure that local farmers have the necessary support to sustain and expand bee populations, thereby promoting sustainable agriculture and the production of healthy, local food.
This support is crucial for maintaining the health of the agricultural sector and ensuring the continuity of crop production.
In 2021, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada credited honeybees with contributing approximately $3.18 billion in additional harvest value nationwide, underscoring their critical role in the agricultural ecosystem.
As the program enters its second year, it continues to support not only the expansion of hive operations but also the adoption of new technologies and best management practices to ensure the health and productivity of the bee populations in Nova Scotia.