Overview

Access a variety of educational, training and funding resources, for apiculture management, specific to Ontario beekeepers.

We encourage Ontario beekeepers to use these resources to manage the long-term health of their honey bee colonies.

Ontario Apiary Program

The Ontario Apiary Program is responsible for:

  • the oversight and administration of the Bees Act
  • advisory and outreach to the apiculture industry and beekeepers on honey bee health

Learn about best management and biosecurity practices for beekeeping in Ontario.

Read Essential Practices for Beekeepers in Ontario to learn about recommended practices to ensure healthy, productive managed honey bees.

Professional and local associations

Ontario Beekeepers' Association

The Ontario Beekeepers’ Association (OBA) represents the beekeeping industry in Ontario. Their membership includes commercial and small-scale beekeepers, as well as members of the public who may not keep bees.

There are 3 sub-associations within the OBA:

The OBA works to:

  • ensure a thriving and sustainable honey bee industry in Ontario
  • advocate for beekeepers’ interests
  • support honey bee health research
  • provide workshops and courses

The OBA runs a Technology Transfer Program that provides research, online and in-person workshops on basic beekeeping and integrated pest management, informational updates to beekeepers and a 100% Ontario Honey branding program.

The OBA is a member of the Canadian Honey Council (CHC) with an Ontario representative serving on the CHC board.

Local beekeeping associations

There are over 25 local beekeeping associations across Ontario.

These associations provide beekeepers with local information on beekeeping conditions and issues. Associations usually hold monthly meetings with guest speakers and discussion forums.

Canadian Association of Professional Apiculturists

The Canadian Association of Professional Apiculturists (CAPA) includes Provincial Apiarists, honey bee researchers and specialists.

CAPA addresses specific issues at the federal level such as:

  • research priorities
  • technical and scientific support
  • advisory to the industry and federal regulators
  • assistance with registration of pest and disease treatment options
  • updates in research and apicultural science
  • compiling a national report on overwinter mortality data gathered by the provinces

Canadian Honey Council

The Canadian Honey Council (CHC) is the national organization of the Canadian beekeeping industry.

The CHC provides a forum where producers, packers, professionals, provincial associations and officials from different levels of government can talk and recommend action in the best interests of the Canadian honey bee industry.

Education, training and advisory

Commercial beekeeping program, Niagara College

Niagara College’s commercial beekeeping program is the first of its kind in eastern Canada.

The program offers applied learning experiences via an on-campus apiary with 30 actively managed hives.

The 3-semester program coincides with the normal annual lifecycle of a honey bee. It is reflective of a provincial focus on pollinator health strategies, with an aim to create a highly skilled labour force to care for managed pollinators.

Honey Bee Research Centre, University of Guelph

The Honey Bee Research Centre (HBRC):

  • produces scientific research on the fundamentals of apiculture (including the biology, management and treatment options for pests and diseases of honey bees, honey bee genetics and environmental stressors on honey bees)
  • trains researchers, volunteers and beekeepers
  • offers university courses and workshops in the field of apiculture
  • gives seminars at beekeeper meetings and conferences

The HBRC’s research projects encompass honey bee health and pathology with a focus on genetics, biology of honey bee parasites, immunity and behavioural ecology of honey bees.

The HBRC manages over 300 colonies of honey bees for apiculture research and education purposes.

Ontario Animal Health Network, University of Guelph

The Ontario Animal Health Network’s (OAHN) Bees Network is a working group made up of researchers, industry representatives (beekeepers), government officers and non-government specialists.

The working group:

  • facilitates communication on advisory materials
  • conducts research and outreach projects related to bee health

Funding

Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership

The funding opportunities under Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) are cost-share intakes. Cost-share funding is where the governments of Ontario and Canada contribute a portion of the total project cost, and the applicant contributes the remaining amount. There is a cost-share intake targeted to beekeepers that launched September 15, 2023. This initiative will be offered for up to 2 years or when the budget is fully allocated – whichever comes first.

Honey Bee Health Initiative

The Canadian and Ontario governments are investing up to $2.375 million to provide cost-share funding to support beekeepers in maintaining healthy honey bee colonies as well as grow their number of colonies to increase the sustainability of the beekeeping industry in Ontario.

Registered beekeepers can apply for funding to support activities including:

  • purchase of equipment to prevent the introduction and spread of disease and increase overwinter survival of bees
  • sampling and analysis for pests and diseases to increase adoption of integrated pest management and other best management practices
  • purchase of honey bee queens and stock to assist in building the resilience of the industry

Business risk management

These business risk management programs are delivered by Agricorp, an agency of the Ontario government. These programs can help protect you against many business and agricultural risks beyond your control.

AgriStability

AgriStability protects beekeepers against managed honey bee losses, increased costs and market conditions. If a beekeeper’s margin falls below 70% of their recent average, AgriStability helps to offset the difference.

Income and expenses for all bee and honey-related products are included in the beekeeper’s margins under this program.

Self-directed risk management

The self-directed risk management plan for edible horticulture allows beekeepers to deposit a percentage of their allowable net sales into an account to receive the corresponding government contribution.

All honey related income is included in a producer’s allowable net sales.

Production insurance

Production Insurance covers colony losses during the overwinter period and honey yield reductions caused by factors beyond a beekeeper’s control, like adverse weather, disease, pests, wildlife and other uncontrollable natural perils.

Agricorp currently offers two types of production insurance coverage for beekeepers. They are for:

  • honey — covers honey yield reductions and production losses
  • bee health — covers losses that occur during the overwinter period

AgriInvest

AgriInvest is a savings account with matching contributions from the provincial and federal governments to help either cover small income declines or support other investments.

Each year, beekeepers can deposit up to 1% of their allowable net sales into a bank account and receive a matching government contribution. Beekeepers can withdraw funds at any time. All bee and honey-related income is included in a beekeeper’s allowable net sales.

In Ontario, AgriInvest is delivered by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.