PROVINCE FUNDING BEE RESEARCH

Saskatchewan Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization will provide a grant of $10,000 to the Saskatchewan Beekeepers' Association (SBA) for its "Saskatraz" project.

The name "Saskatraz" refers to an apiary of honey bee colonies that will be kept in isolation while they are monitored and selected for mite resistance.

"Saskatraz research will put the Saskatchewan beekeeping industry at the forefront of work in North America," Agriculture and Food Minister Mark Wartman said. "Research and development funding is helping this industry grow and diversify, and is part of our efforts to build a green and prosperous economy."

The SBA started Saskatraz to find honey bee stock that is resistant to Varroa and Tracheal mites; determine the resistant genes; and produce resistant breeding stock. The goal is to enable Saskatchewan beekeepers to maintain productive colonies without the need for chemical controls.

Mites are parasites to honey bee colonies, and can kill them within three years, if left untreated. Mites are developing resistance to chemical treatments in other parts of the world, and could eventually affect Saskatchewan bees as well. The Saskatraz research will enable the Saskatchewan industry to develop mite resistant bee stock before chemical resistance becomes a provincial problem.

"We believe a mite-resistant bee stock will be a critical part of the future success and prosperity of our industry," President of the Saskatchewan Beekeepers' Association, Tim Wendell said.

The SBA imported Russian bee stock from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Three local producers are multiplying the stock and breeding queens. The Saskatraz project incorporates the USDA stock with Saskatchewan selected stock from producers across the province, who have been selecting stock from over-wintered colonies for the past 25 years.

Over the next five years, the hives in the Saskatraz project will be subjected to Tracheal and Varroa mite pressure and monitored for mite resistance, honey bee population growth, honey production and successful wintering. The most productive hives, with the best mite resistance, will be selected, and queens will be raised and sold.

Early indications are that the Saskatraz project will be successful. Both summer and fall analysis of Russian and Saskatchewan stocks have tested free of Tracheal mites so far, and testing will continue. The SBA will be importing more stock in the spring.

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For More Information, Contact:

Scott Brown SAFRR Regina Phone: 787-4031

Tim Wendell Saskatchewan Beekeeper's Association Yorkton Cell: (204) 564-2315