The Rural Voice, 1990-07, Page 29The world price rose in 1989-90
to 53 cents a pound; the low was 40.
With production costs amounting to
about 42 cents a pound, the profit
margin was satisfactory. But in
1988-89 the world price dropped
to 35 cents a pound, with a high of
40, causing widespread losses among
Ontario producers. A payout of 8
cents a pound was triggered under the
National Tripartite Stabilization
Program.
Some losses are offset by the retail
trade, which in the case of the Bruces
amounts to about 30,000 to 40,000 lbs.
a year. "We sell about 15 per cent of
our crop directly from extraction,"
Kelly says. "Our regular customers
bring their own containers and we fill
them directly from the tanks. That's
the easiest way for us, and also
ecologically the most sound."
The rest of the honey is packaged
into metric jars of various sizes and
sold primarily at their own store on the
premises, at farmers' markets they
attend, and at a few local retail outlets.
The Bruces also collect a ton of
beeswax annually, as well as some
pollen. Most of the beeswax is sold
on the open market, with some going
into the production of hand -dipped
candles and blocks sold at their store.
The pollen, collected on traps at the
bottom of the hives, is available
directly from the farm. Pollen is also
exported to Japan, where it is popular
as a source of high protein and a
natural medicine.
Additional income comes from
placing 200 hives in local apple
orchards, for which the Bruces get a
payment of $27 per hive. Their other
hives in the permanent yards, on the
other hand, cost the Bruces 50 lbs. of
honey in exchange for one hive yard.
"It's a mutually beneficial arrange-
ment between an apiarist and a farm-
er," Toby says. "They get the pollin-
ation of their crops, we get the honey."
All in all, the Bruces have been
very pleased with the success of their
venture. "We're in a good location
here," Toby says. "It's a perfect area
for honeybees, lots of nectar around
and close to the orchards. We get a
good summer trade with road sales
and an excellent local trade. This is a
well-established operation and people
know us for miles around."0
usm
LIVESTOCK
CONFINEMENT EQUIPMENT
Dairy • Pressure Washers • Hog
DEL-AIRVENTILATION SYSTEMS
Ridge fresh air inlet
Sidewall fresh air inlet
Heat exchanger
For More Information Contact Your Local BSM Dealer
ATWOOD
KROPF BROS
CONST.
519-356-2249
ZURICH
SOUTH HURON
AGRI-SYSTEMS
519-236-7424
GRANTON
AVONBANK
FARM EQUIPMENT
519-225-2507
BRUSSELS
HURON FEEDING
SYSTEMS
519-887-6289
MILDMAY TARA
MIDWAY FARM H. NICHOLSON
SYSTEMS AND SON
519-367-5358 519-934-2343
KINCARDINE WELLESLEY/RANNOCH
LOWRY FARM
SYSTEMS
519-395-2615
PROGRESSIVE FARMING
519-656-2709
519-229-6700
JULY 1990 25