Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2007-07-11, Page 12Page 12 The Huron Expositor • July 11, 2007 News Huron apiaries have most resilient bees in province, says Ontario Beekeepers Association president i Ben Ferree -1 Roughly 30 per cent • of Ontario's honeybees were lost over the winter, with the Niagara-Haldimand- Norfolk (N -H -N) area being particu- larly hard-hit. Some operations have reported losses of 90 per cent, and Ontario honey production is expected to decrease as a result. Interestingly, Huron County api- aries escaped without much harm. According to Ontario Beekeepers Association president Dan Walker,: local bees were the most resilient in the province. Walker attributes this to heamy snowfall, under which the bees were isolated. A lack of snow cover was a contributing factor to the losses in N -H -N. "It wasn't a problem in Kincardine, Goderich, all the way over to Shelburne," he said. "It wasn't a problem 1n that area at all." Goderich-area beekeeper Steve Boucher confirms this. "Beekeepers in this area did very well," he said. "We lost less than average. Usually average is 15-20 per cent. I lost only four per cent." Mild weather during the fall and winter caused bees further south to continue to breed, according to Walker. The older bees stayed' with their young rather than move the inches necessary to reach food and nourish themselves. A wicked cold snap occurred in January and February, but the bees didn't freeze to death, Walker said — they starved. Beekeepers across the province sent hives to N -H -N in order to help replenish the population there, and allow for the spring pollination of fruit and vegetable crops. Because of this, beekeepers else- where will need to build their num- bers back up as well, Walker said. "You either have them stronger to raise honey, or you split them down DRINKING WATER SOUR� PROTECTION JULY 11, 2007 Emir NOTICE LAST CALL FOR NOMINATIONS Ausable Sayfleld and MsNland Valley Source Protection Commmfttes Under 0. Reg. 2$$$07, Man Wale rAct 2000 Summary or Functions of Committee: As outlined in the Clean Water Ad, 2008 , the Ausable Baytleid and Maitland Valley Source Protection Committee will be created according to provfndal regulation. The Source Protection Committee w+S oversee a science -based planning process to develop a Source Protection Plan to protect municipal sources of drinking water in the Ausable Bayfield and Maitland VaNey Planning Region. The committee, by regulation. will be comprised of 15 members, exducNng the Chair. The committee will be comprised of seats representing a variety of sectors to encompass the broad, multi -sectoral Interests of the planning region. Applications are currently being accepted for representatives of the three major sectors which will each be assigned five (5) seats: municipal, economic and other pubic interest sectors. The proposed composition of the Committee is listed below: Municipal Sector Municipal (5) Economic Sector Agricultural (3) Commercial (Business/Tourisn) (1) Industry/Manufacturing (1) Other Interests Environmental (2) Landowner/Property (1) Heald) (1) Pubic at Large (1) Summary of Member Obligations: A fun job description is available at www.sourcewalerinfo.on.ca. For a hardcopy or for prlier clarification, call 1-168.256.2510 or 519-236-2610. Now to Apply for AppoNkm.ntto the 11 interested erested r nn consideration for appointment to the and background by ugust 11. 687 to the sector organizer Nailed below u submit a brief summary of interest Aincultural Bob Down Tel: 519-236-2567 E-mail: bobdown©quadro. net sem. (SualnasalTourteml Duncan Jewell Tel: 519.5244558 E-mail: duncanajjeweii.net tikatISIMIONSOIL— Monica Walicar43oNon Tel: 519.5244394 E mail: rr walker-bokonQhuroncounty.ca EDAronmente Matt Pearson Tel: 519524-2641 E -mall: mpearsonebmross. net LaegEfendeadMfik— John Gi feapie Tal: 519.236.4689 E-mail: johngbehay net Pubi je a tart's Cathie Brown Tel: 519-235-2810 E-mail: Inloalsourcewaterinfo. on. ca Applications can also be submitted by mall to the sector organizer, c/o ABMV Drinking Water Source Protection Project, 71108 Morrison Line, Exeter, Ontario, NOM 155. Any applications received to -date by the sector organizers will be considered to stand. Sector organizers wit submit top candidates within each sector by September 11, 200T to the Source Protection Authority. For general Information, contact Cathie Brown, Project Manager. at 1-888-286-2810 / 519-235-2810 or at jnfoQsourcewaterinfo.on.ca. This notice is aysllabie in an expanded version at www.eouroewaterinfo.on.ca. Beekeeper Steve Boucher extracts bees from one of his Goderich-area hives. either. — make more hives. When you keep splitting them to make more hives, they're not going to have enough population to make honey. "So in order for us to get our num- bers back up, we're going to have to give up something, and one of the things will be honey." Ontario beekeepers produce more than three million kilograms of honey each year, a crop worth $14 million. Honeybees also pollinate a number of fruit and vegetable crops. 7 Those crops worth is estimat- ed to be in excess of $170 million. Boucher has already replen- ished his losses, and his own honey production hasn't been affected. At only 65 hives, howev- er, his operation is relatively small and serves as a hobby rather than his primary occupation. He doesn't expect to see any of the $3 million in aid money announced 1 to last month by he Ontario govern- ment, and nei- ther do Hensall- area apiarists Bill and Rosemarie Ferguson, who say they were not seriously affected Walker said the funding announced will definitely help, but that more aid is needed from the federal government. The importation of honey from China and elsewhere has driven the price of honey down significantly, he said, and the plight of Canadian beekeepers extends beyond Ontario's borders. "The importation and some of the other problems we have are coast to coast," he said. TOTAL IMAGE H Weather Shean welcomes Katie Williamson to The Image Spa Team. Katie is a graduate of The Elegance School in London and is a certified esthetician. She is also certified in "HotStone Massage" and invites old friends and new friends to see her for a treatment. COUPON Hot Stone MASSAGE offer expires Sept. 29/07 Hot stone massage is the therapeutic use of stones. It increases circulation, decreases joint & tension pain and reduces overall stress. 2 Estheticians Now On Staff To Serve You Call Today For An Appointment. 59 Main St. S., Seaforth 519-527-0780 www.totalimageii.com Appointments Not Always Necessary Bring a Friend and Enjoy a Day at the Spa • 5