LONDON, Ontario, May 24, 2007 – Joe Preston, Member of Parliament for
Elgin–Middlesex–London, on behalf of the Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of
Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board, today
announced $136,582 for two projects that will benefit the Ontario Beekeepers’
Association.
“Canada’s New Government is proud to invest more than $136,000 in two projects
that will help the industry address the unexplained losses in the bee population
and support the long-term sustainability of the industry,” said Mr. Preston.
“This support for the Ontario Beekeeper’s Association means that important
research can be done, which could help beekeepers in future years.”
Over $105,000 is being provided to test methods to control the infestation of
the hive beetle in honey bee colonies in Ontario. The project includes
investigating the potential impact of environmental residues on honey bee hive
products, and studying organic beekeeping management techniques.
The Ontario Beekeepers’ Association is also receiving over $31,000 in funding to
study honey bee colonies that sustained high winter losses this past year to
determine if there is a common cause for the higher that normal colony mortality
rate.
“These projects will help the industry deal with this year’s bee losses and
develop management techniques for a range of issues affecting beekeepers,” says
Brent Halsall, president of the Ontario Beekeepers’ Association.
Funding for these projects is made available through Agriculture and Agri-Food
Canada’s Advancing Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food (ACAAF) Program. In
Ontario, ACAAF is administered by Agricultural Adaptation Council (AAC) under
their CanAdvance program.
“These projects will help to strengthen the apiculture sector and build a more
sustainable honey bee industry in Ontario,” said Fred Wagner, AAC Board Member.
To obtain more information on the AAC, please visit www.adaptcouncil.org. More
information on ACAAF is also available online (www.agr.gc.ca/acaaf).
- 30 -Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
613-759-7972
1-866-345-7972
Ted Yeomans
Press Secretary
Minister Strahl’s Office
613-759-1059
Angela Stiles
Executive Director
Agricultural Adaptation Council
519-822-7554
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