It’s better news this spring as far as the health of bee colonies in Ontario and Grey Bruce are concerned.
That die off this winter has been a lot less than the past three winters that saw die offs in the 25 to 30 per cent range.
Tim Greer is President of the Ontario Beekeepers Association.
He says the losses this past winter were less than before but are still higher than the historical average for the Province.
He says 10 per cent winter die off is about the average for the honey bee colonies in Ontario and this year that rate was in the 15 to 20 per cent range.
Greer says research out of the University of Guelph by Professor Ernesto Guzman shows that the varroa mite is the the main culprit behind the high winter mortality rates.
The health of the honey bee colonies is vital to the agricultural sector in Ontario as one third of everything we eat is pollinated by a honey bee.
Greer says the annual incremental value of bees as pollinators of crops in Ontario exceeds 100 million dollars.
He says they are especially important for the apple producers of Grey Bruce as honey bee colonies are used to pollinate the orchards.
Locally it appears the honey bee colonies also survived the winter in better shape than they did last year.
Grey Bruce Beekeepers Association President Carmenie Stemmler says a few operators experienced higher than average losses, but most of the colonies in this area are in pretty good shape.