APRIL 2017 • COUNTRY LIFE IN BC Honey producers talk trade, farm status


Pollination service income doesn’t qualify for farm status


by TOM WALKER KAMLOOPS – The education


program for the BC Honey Producers Association (BCHPA) semi-annual meeting in Kamloops in early March was host to a full house. “We sold every one of the 175 seats,” says BCHPA treasurer Irene Tiampo. “The room was packed.” Most had come to learn and be entertained by renowned American bee keeper Mike Palmer from Vermont, who shared his 40- plus years of building a sustainable apiary that produces 30 tons of honey annually. Palmer noted that he saw hope for a renewal. “There used to be a bunch of old bald guys at these kind of talks,” he quipped. “Now we see women and young people in the front row. It’s a wonderful change for our industry.” Palmer spent half the day


showing producers how to raise their own queens, in their own apiary, using their own stock. “Grow your own to replace


your bees,” Palmer says. “It’s easy because the bees do the work if you set them up to do the job.” “You can grow better bees and queens than you can buy,” Palmer says. “And you avoid the risk of disease that might come with bringing in bees from New Zealand or Australia.”


The education sessions included Svenja Belaoussoff providing an overview of the Canadian Honey Council’s new beekeeper book. Belaoussoff emphasized the bee biosecurity and food safety aspects of the manual. “Maintaining the high


reputation that Canadian honey enjoys is the responsibility of all beekeepers,” she says.


Down to business Some 70 voting members


were welcomed to the business session chaired by BCHPA president Kerry Clark. A number of important issues were presented for discussion by members. Food safety regulations


were reviewed. “The days of not being


subject to a health authority are long gone” commented Rudi Peters from Terrace. Members were reminded that CFIA registration is required for honey producers who send honey to other


• Bearings on king pins for no sway trailing • Includes 2 shoes and 2 Universal Pads • 2 Ratchet straps to secure load • 4 Wheel steering • 4 Wheel electric brakes


• 4 Wheel independent ROAD FLEX suspension • 30 ft. wheelbase with reinforced bottom rail • Wheel Fenders


• Running lights on fenders and rails • Light kit (Red Lenses)


• 2-5/16 ball hitch and safety chains • Vehicle Identification Number for Licensing • Double Spring Balancer


• 235/85 R16 (F Range) Highway trailer tire on 16 x 6 x 6 rim


provinces, export out of the country, or sell directly to retail (and must have a CFIA approved label). Direct sales at the farmgate or farmers’ markets do not require a provincial inspection of this “low-risk product,” yet some farmers’ markets may insist on inspection as a requirement for market participation. The proposed regulations in the Safe Food for Canadians Act were reviewed by Ted Hancock. The new regulations for licensing, traceability and preventative control plans will only apply to producers with more than $30,000 in gross honey sales or those who are importing, exporting or selling to other provinces. Producers may follow the Canadian Honey Council’s voluntary on-farm food safety program the Canadian Bee Industry Safety Quality Traceability Producer Manual.


Marketing plan


Judy Campbell and Amanda Goodman Lee gave an overview of progress on a BC marketing plan. Members will be surveyed on aspects of the program, including creating a new logo. “We


are trying


to create a marketing program where everybody on the street knows that it is a BC product,” Campbell says. Pollination services are a crucial support for the fruit and vegetable industries in BC and a major source of income for beekeepers. Two items for discussion triggered motions that gave direction to the executive concerning pollination services.


BC Assessment doesn't consider pollination a crop or service that contributes to farm income for farm tax status. By contrast, stud services for horse breeders do qualify.


Several BCHPA members who have cut back


on


honey production to pursue more lucrative pollination


contracts question the policy.


The second motion


considered the safety of bees while doing this valuable pollination work. Producers have seen the health of their hives suffer when they are placed in fruit fields, particularly blueberries. “The use of fungicides in blueberries was thought to


be non-toxic to bees, but we are finding that they actually are,” says first vice-president Jeff Lee. ”The government needs to support us as we pollinate this high-value BC crop.” In the past, Alberta colonies that have overwintered in BC have been set out in blueberry fields in the spring and then brought back to Alberta to work in cereal fields but Alberta is now requiring colonies to be inspected before they leave BC and placed in quarantine in northern Alberta and inspected again before they can be placed in fields. Several members said the will consider pulling out of blueberry fields rather than expose their colonies to potential risks. “We need to work with the


blueberry council,” said Clark. “They are our collaborators on this.”


25


Cuts From The Bottom Up.


Maximize your productivity, reduce costs, and save valuable time with a Bale Knife from HLA Attachments.


Available in 3 sizes, the Bale Knife uses a serrated cutting edge to easily cut through your 4, 5, and 6 foot silage and hay bales. A proprietary system grabs the wrap and bale netting holding it securely as the bale is sliced and drops free keeping bale netting and wrap out of your mixers and feeders.


It’s unique design allows for bales to be cut a mere 6” off the ground making it ideal for use in areas with low overhead.


Visit www.hlaattachments.com/baleknife for more information.


1.866.567.4162 www.hlaattachents.com www.horstwagons.com


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48