HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1998-10-14, Page 6t, Easter Times–Advocate
Wednesday. October 14. 1996
Community
Beekeepers enjoy
bumper honey crop
Healthy bees and ideal weather conditions com-
bined to make this year's crop the best in two
decades
By Katie Moret
RAY 'I'W!' — Clow sweet it is! With the best honey crop rn 2U years. Bill, Rosemary
. and Susan Ferguson of Ferguson Apiaries near Hensall are smiling.
In an average year,'their 900 hives produce 75. pounds of hone) each In.1998, the
average• yield was• More than 100 pounds per hive.
A niimber of factors contributed to the bumper crop
"Everything thing seemed to come together this year." Bill Ferguson reflected. •
While this year's hot. dry weather had a negative impact on field crop production.
the sante conditions were ideal for bees resulting in yields that were superior in
qualitj and quant.it) . . . .
. (1ne factor is that this -year's -weather put many under stress. Plants •react to stress
b} producing more flowers as a survival mechanism which means more nectar for
the bees • Rainfall also effects the blossoms which impedes bee activity
Bees are lair weather creatures and most active in hot, humid weather which was
in abundance this spring. summer and fall. .
TM- ideal- Weather coincided with the healthiest bee stock in several years with
tracheal and varroa mites in check.
'We've learned how to control .the mites." Bill said
That's not sat the mites didn't have. serious consequences for the beekeeping
tndustr\ in Canada. • • ,
"11e lost a lot of beekeepers when the tithe came." Bill said. including full- time
and part-time beekeepers.
The number of beekeepers has now leveled out and Bill expects an new -comers
will be better prepared to deal withal(' challenges.
Bill is optimistic about the industry •
"11e probably live in the best part o1 the,worfd to keep bees," be said.
..According w Bill. the L .S . particuJarl) Arizona.:hati a problem .with Africanized
trees winch are ver) aggressive and ''Sting things to death " • -.
Fortunate') the) can't survive Canadian winters and Bill doesn't anticipate they'll
tie an issue to Ontario. ; .
Hone) consurnption,patterns are changing with people trying more, varieties than
in previous years Clover- hone) is the traditional hone) .but the demand for buck-,
wiieat.hone) has 'tripled likei} because it has more Ilavour. according to Bill.
(Joldenrod is also. gaiuirrg in popularrt) which has a fruit) flavour and a pleasant
scent. . . -
. Ferguson'' Apiaries is also diversifying ing into various value-added hone> -based
products such as chocolate, almond. nougat. ginger, • apricot and 'c-ranberry honey
spreads; hand creams. natural bets Wax. foundation and bees wax candles.
Some customers ma) pick up a ,lar of the spreads •or hand creams while they're
.buying hone) -but -others come just for the specialty products, according to Bill and
'Rosemary's daughter Susan, who began working full time at the apiary in. the
spring.. . ...
Susan recalls working with the family business as she was growing up. After fin-
ishing high school she worked in London but this spring decided to retake. the career
Move to full time beekeeping. • •.
Iler favourite part 'of the. business is opening the hives itt the spring .to see what's
going on in the hives, Susan also, has a talent for the. tine work of queen -Tearing
winch requires a keen eye and stead. hand. .
She doesn't know of an} other full time ltrnafe beekeeper and believes the heavy
lilting is a deterrent: During harvest season. she is. lilting 90-100 pound `supers'
'the top.part of the hives that contain the honey) oh a regular basis.
.Although she has no formal education in beekeeping. she believes growing up with
the business has been,instruinental. Like most farmers; she enjoys the indepen-
dence and being.able to work on her own and make_ decisions. •
"You have a certain amount of free rein." Susan said.
A family affair. Bill and Rosemary Ferguson
and their daughter Susan work.full time at
their business, Ferguson
Apiaries between Hensall
and Zurich. With 900
hives, the apiary is the
largest in the area.