Minister Marit underlined commercial beekeepers' significance, contributing to about one-fifth of Canada's honey production and playing a pivotal role in pollinating crops. The support fund, covering up to 70% of costs for replacing lost stock and colonies, aims to restore commercial production efficiently.
"Commercial beekeeping operations have a critical role in our ecosystem and are also integral to Saskatchewan's agriculture industry, pollinating crops while being responsible for roughly one-fifth of Canada's honey production," Marit said. "This assistance covers up to 70 per cent of the costs related to replacing lost stock and colonies and is the most efficient option for helping restore commercial production."
Saskatchewan is home to nearly 100,000 colonies, annually producing nearly 20 million pounds of honey. Nathan Wendell, President of the Saskatchewan Beekeepers Development Commission, expressed gratitude for the aid, emphasizing bees' vital role beyond economic contributions in maintaining balanced ecosystems.
"Beyond their obvious economic contributions through honey production and crop pollination, bees have a unique natural role as the unsung heroes of not only the agriculture industry but the ecosystems in which we live and work," Saskatchewan Beekeepers Development Commission President Nathan Wendell said. "This support is greatly appreciated, and will assist impacted provincial beekeepers as they continue to rebuild their operations, restore the viability of their colonies and resume their important contributions to a balanced and thriving environment."
AgriRecovery, a federal-provincial disaster relief initiative, collaboratively supports agricultural producers in overcoming disaster-induced challenges. The cost-shared AgriRecovery program stands as a significant step in aiding beekeepers, acknowledging their crucial role in sustaining agriculture and ecological balance.