Ontario Beekeepers Report Dramatically Lower Honey Production in 2017
October 31, 2017
Don't blame your local beekeeper if there isn’t much Ontario honey available for sale this year.
In a survey of Ontario beekeepers sponsored by the Ontario Beekeepers’ Association, almost 57% of Ontario beekeepers reported that honey production for 2017 was down by 50% or more from last year. Many beekeepers reported honey production 25% or less than what was collected last year. These trends were found in both small beekeepers with fewer than 50 colonies and in larger operations with as many as 5,000 colonies or more. Ontario’s Niagara and Northwest regions appear to be the hardest hit with the highest percentage of beekeepers suffering crops as low as or lower than 25% of the previous year.
