NEWS RELEASE
OSCIA excited to be delivering new intake to support Ontario Beekeepers
June 25, 2021 (Guelph, ON) – The Ontario Soil & Crop Improvement Association is excited to be delivering a new opportunity for Ontario beekeepers to support managed bee health. The new intake was announced by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs on June 2 and began accepting applications on June 21.
The first intake under the targeted initiative was originally launched back in 2019, under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership. Also delivered by OSCIA, the first intake supported over $550,000 in cost-share funding allocated to 350 projects, for beekeepers owning more than 20,000 hives across the province.
“Beekeepers are crucial to maintaining healthy bee populations in Ontario, supporting our biodiverse ecosystems and for pollination of our crops and flowers. This new intake presents opportunities for beekeepers to improve practices and biosecurity for their colonies and expand their business potential through marketing and processing. OSCIA recognizes the importance of the sector and is excited to play a key role in delivering the intake”, said Chad Anderson, President of OSCIA.
The intake offers 50% cost-share funding for beekeepers with at least 10 hives registered with the provincial apiarist, up to a maximum cost-share of $3,500 for those with less than 50 hives, and up to $10,000 in cost-share funding for those with 50 hives or more. Beekeepers can get funding for diversifying their business through purchase of domestic, disease-free honey bee stock, processing equipment, or developing and implementing comprehensive marketing plans; or, for implementing practices to prevent the introduction and spread of honey bee pests and disease through purchase of equipment or construction to improve hive health management.
Also under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, OSCIA delivers Bee Biosecurity Workshops. The workshops are delivered as one-day in person sessions or two-day webinars, during which technical information is presented by the Ontario Beekeeper’s Association (OBA) Tech Transfer Team. The workshops are open to new and experienced beekeepers to learn about best management practices that support honeybee health and reduce the risk of pests. Th workshop helps beekeepers identify areas where small improvements may make big impacts for their business and the health of their hives and may also point them to the opportunities available under the cost-share program to support changes.
OBA’s Tech Transfer Team conducts research for Ontario’s beekeeping industry. During the workshops, beekeepers can get the answers and information they need to start setting up their own biosecurity plans.
The Canadian Agricultural Partnership is a five-year investment by Canada’s federal, provincial and territorial governments to encourage innovation, competitiveness and sustainability in Canada’s agriculture industry. The Partnership cost-share funding is administered to producers by the Ontario Soil & Crop Improvement Association.
For more information on the cost-share program, eligibility criteria, the application process, and program deadlines, or to sign up to an upcoming Bee Biosecurity workshop, visit the Canadian Agricultural Partnership webpage on the OSCIA website at: https://membership.ontariosoilcrop.org/canadianagriculturalpartnership/ or contact OSCIA directly at 5198264707 or CAP@ontariosoilcrop.org.
Media contact:
Barbara Caswell
Senior Operations Coordinator
5198264707
bcaswell@ontariosoilcrop.org