Market Updates
By Guy Chartier
Canadian Honey Crop Outlook
As was reported previously, the 2024 Canadian honey crop experienced a significant decline, with production down 18% compared to last year and 8% lower than the previous four-year average. Reports indicated that most beekeepers in the Prairie Provinces faced challenges due to a shorter bloom period for canola, driven by high temperatures and low precipitation.
Currently there is very little honey still in beekeepers’ possession from last year’s crop and everyone is hopeful that this year’s crop will be better than last year. The challenge for now is to get the hives ready in time for the summer flower bloom. Many beekeepers experienced high losses
this winter and are needing to invest in bee packages in order to get hive numbers back to where they were before winter.
Honey Prices
Up to very recently, we were receiving very few reports of any honey offers to beekeepers. We have now heard that some buyers are now offering beekeepers $1.85 to $2.10 per pound. This is quite a large spread in offers, so it will be interesting to see where the price starts to settle for the 2025 crop year.
In the United States, the Department of Commerce recently reviewed the anti dumping import duties on honey entering the United States from Argentina, Brazil, Vietnam and India. These duties can have an impact on Canadian honey prices, especially duties on Argentinean honey (comparable quality to Canadian honey). Since the duties recently announced on Argentinean honey in the United States are not significant, this announcement will probably not have much impact on prices in Canada.
Bee Maid Bee Supplies staff hard at work getting bee packages ready for pick up in Manitoba.
MARKET UPDATE
Are You Receiving Our Emails?
We’ve recently started using Mailchimp to send member updates — and we want to make sure those important messages are landing in your inbox.
Mailchimp helps us better understand how members are engaging with our emails so we can continue to improve how we communicate with you. But sometimes, depending on your email provider, messages can still end up in your spam or your junk folder.
To ensure you don’t miss critical updates on co-op news, events, or Bee Supplies, please take a moment to add these email addresses to your contact list or safe sender list:
• sbowden@beemaid.com
• beestore@beemaid.com
Need help updating your email settings?
Step-by-step instructions for common email platforms are availalbe on the Member Portal. By taking a few quick steps, you’ll help ensure you never miss a message from your co-ops.
2025 Co-operative Holiday Closures
Canada Day
Year-End Inventory Count
Tues Jul. 1 2025
Thurs Jul. 31 2025
Civic Holiday Mon Aug. 4 2025
Labour Day
National Day for Truth & Reconciliation
Thanksgiving
Mon Sep. 1 2025
Tues Sep. 30 2025
Mon Oct.13 2025
The Members Online Portal is your source for all information regarding your membership at the Cooperative.
The Portal experience allows for anytime, anywhere access to valuable information such various membership forms, payment information, newsletters, as well as your account statements.
Visit the Members Online Portal regularly to be sure that you are getting the most out of your membership experience.
If you have not yet claimed your Online Portal account, or if you have any other questions, please email all inquiries to portal@beemaid.com and we’ll be happy to assist you.
New Workshops
Kicked Off In April
We’re excited to share a new initiative taking root at our Spruce Grove and Winnipeg Bee Supplies stores—in-person workshops designed to support beginner and aspiring beekeepers while helping grow connections within the beekeeping community. These workshops not only offer valuable hands-on learning but also provide a great opportunity to share our expertise and showcase the tools and products available in-store.
Spruce Grove Workshops
In April and May, the Spruce Grove store hosted a Seasonal Hive Management workshop— a full-day session covering everything from spring bee management and swarm prevention to prepping your hives for winter. The feedback was fantastic, and due to popular demand, we’re offering it again on June 21. Know someone who might be interested? Register here.
Winnipeg Workshops
Winnipeg’s spring workshop focused on practical tips for new beekeepers, including installing nucs, monitoring for mites, and hive placement strategies. A second session — presented by the Knowledge Research Transfer Program (KRTP) —covered hive inspection basics, swarm prevention, and when and how to super your hives. Our upcoming July workshop will cover honey harvesting and varroa monitoring. More details coming soon!
All workshops so far have received terrific feedback, and we’re excited to continue building out the series in the months ahead. Have ideas for future topics, or want to get involved? Reach out to Shannon at sbowden@beemaid.com and she’ll connect you with the workshop organizers.
CFIA License Information RELEVANT MEMBER INFO
Please note the new cost recovery program remains in effect and will be implemented on all non-CFIA licensed pounds. The licensing plan is as follows:
Both the Alberta and Manitoba Cooperatives will continue to support and work with their Members in order to help them achieve their CFIA license.
IMPORTANT: Please remember to submit/email a copy of your CFIA license to your respective Cooperative on a biennial basis (license is valid for 2 years) to:
Alberta Co-operative: Bernadette Juros (bjuros@beemaid.com) Manitoba Cooperative: Karen Miles (kmiles@beemaid.com)
CFIA Consultant
If you have any questions regarding licensing with CFIA, please feel free to contact Sam Barlin. As the CFIA Consultant for the Alberta and Manitoba Cooperatives, Sam is available to:
•Answer questions Members may have regarding licensing with CFIA
•Visit a Member’s location to ensure compliance with CFIA regulations (call to set up an appointment)
•Review written programs and templates to ensure compliance with SFCR regulations
Sam Barlin - Contact Info:
Cell: 1-204-806-4737
Email: sbarlin@beemaid.com
Mail: 645 Black Diamond Blvd, Winnipeg, MB R2J 4M7
Advanced Payments Program Applications (APP)
Your participation in the Advance Payment Program (APP) provides a significant benefit to the Co-ops in the way of interest savings on borrowing. The APP enables both the Alberta and Manitoba Co-operatives to borrow the funds necessary to make the initial payment on honey interest free.
Please consider signing up for the APP program for the 2025-26 crop year. If you have any questions about the Program, please contact your respective Co-op:
AHP: Bernadette Juros, Kim Sheppard or Julie Klassen MCHP: Tracie Thompson or Karen Miles
APP applications will be distributed to members in June 2025. When you receive your APP application, please take a few minutes to ensure the list of shareholders or partners is correct and matches the legal structure of your business (corporation, partnership or individual).
NOTE: Please fill out all highlighted areas on the application and sign where applicable. Your bank is required to sign Appendix #1. The application is time sensitive, so please return completed applications ASAP to:
AHP: Bernadette Juros (bjuros@beemaid.com)
MCHP: Tracie Thompson (tthompson@beemaid.com)
Bonus
For members participating in the APP program for the 2024/25 crop year, a bonus of 1 cent per pound will be credited to their account on June 30, 2025.
This bonus will also apply to members participating in the program for the 2025/26 crop year.
2025/26 Initial Payment
The Board of Directors is pleased to announce that the initial payment for the 2025/26 crop year has been set at $1.2125 per pound.
Additional information regarding future payments will be shared as the season progresses.
RELEVANT MEMBER INFO
Empty Bulk Containers
We are asking Members to pick up their empty barrel requirements from their respective plants prior to the start of the 2025 crop year.
If Members have bulk containers that are unusable, please do not fill them with honey. Please return them empty to the Cooperative. Members are reminded that honey deliveries must be made in Bee Maid bulk containers only
NOTE: Please do not use Bee Maid bulk containers for wax storage, sugar mixing or any other purpose other than honey deliveries to the Cooperatives.
Members are responsible for the loss or misuse of Bee Maid bulk containers and will be charged at a rate of 75% of the replacement cost, which is currently $105 per Bee Maid silver barrel and $295 per IBC tote.
Alberta Contact 1-780-960-8033
Manitoba Contact 1-204-783-2240 *400 or mbintake@beemaid.com
Spring Regional Member Meeting Recap
Our biennial Member Regional Meetings took place this March and April across Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba—and we were thrilled to see such strong participation! Nearly 100 members joined us in person to stay up to date on key developments across the Co-ops.
The sessions covered a wide range of important topics, including:
•Honey market update
•R6 project
•Member statements
•Website enhancements
•Ecommerce initiatives
•Code of conduct
•Member engagement opportunities
This year, we also introduced a virtual meeting option for the first time, allowing another method to to tune in and stay informed. If you weren’t able to attend in person or online, you can still catch up on everything we covered.
VIEW FULL RECORDING HERE
Thank you to everyone who participated— we value your time, input, and continued commitment to your Co-ops!
Co-operative Member Meeting in Shellbrook, SK.
RELEVANT MEMBER INFO
Bee Maid Honey Limited Scholarship & Research
2025 Scholarship Recipients
In 2004, the Fiftieth Anniversary Scholarship was established to commemorate the formation of Bee Maid Honey Limited in 1954. This scholarship recognizes and encourages the children and grandchildren of Bee Maid members and staff as they pursue post-secondary education. It is designed to inspire academic excellence while fostering fresh ideas within the Bee Maid family.
Bee Maid Honey Limited is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2025 50th Anniversary Scholarships:
• April Steppler from Miami, Manitoba, who plans to attend the University of Manitoba to pursue an Agriculture Diploma.
• Danielle Vrignon from Wawanesa, Manitoba, who is enrolled at the University of Brandon to study Biology and Chemistry.
Congratulations to both April and Danielle! We wish them every success in their studies.
2025 Research Fund Recipients
In addition to our scholarships, the Bee Maid Honey Research Fund was established to support research in apiculture, hive health, and honey production. After careful consideration, we are pleased to announce the project selected for funding:
•“Detection of quinclorac and its transformation products in honey over time” led by Patricia Wolf Veiga, Manager of the National Bee Diagnostic Centre.
We look forward to the insights this research will provide for the beekeeping community.
Beekeeper Field Days Are Back!
Summer is here and so are the 2025 Beekeeper Field Days! These events are a great opportunity to connect, learn, and enjoy time with fellow beekeepers and will include presentations, demonstrations, and fun family activities.
ALBERTA FIELD DAY:
Friday June 20 (10am to 4:30pm)
Beaverlodge Research Farm Beaverlodge, AB
SASKATCHWAN FIELD DAY:
Saturday June 21 (10am to 7pm) Yves Garez Honey Nipawin, SK
MANITOBA BEE DAYS:
Friday June 27 (9am to 1pm)
Bee Maid Bee Supplies Winnipeg, MB
Contact your local beekeeping association for more details on each regional event.
87th Annual General Meeting
The 87th Annual General Meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 2, 2025 at the Hilton Winnipeg Airport Hotel, 1800 Wellington Avenue. Further details will follow in upcoming emails and newsletters.
Quota Rate
The Quota Rate for the 2025 crop year has been set at 100% of the Shipping Bases. The new shipping base calculations will be sent out directly to members shortly.
REMINDER: The Board reserves the right to institute a differential between pools depending on sales and crops.
2024 Pool Interim Payment
The Board of Directors is pleased to announce that the fourth payment on the 2024 Pool is:
At this time, the moisture adjustment will be applied according to the 2024/25 Grading Policy. (See below). These payments were credited to members’ accounts on June 16, 2025.
*Over 20% - Acceptance will be subject to deduction and our ability to utilize high moisture honey.
2025/26 Annual Member Survey
Please be sure to send in your 2025/26 Annual Member Survey as soon as possible. This online survey includes all the documentation required by the Manitoba Cooperative for the upcoming year and once received, will allow the Member to book a honey delivery appointment.
A hardcopy of this survey was mailed out to those Members who do not currently have an email address. To access a copy of this survey, simply click on the following link: CLICK HERE.
To request a hard copy please contact Tracie Thompson at 1-204-783-2240 *254.
Shipping Rule
In order to maintain a continuing membership with the Co-operative, a member is required to ship a minimum of 5,000 pounds annually. This policy is in effect and will continue to be enforced on all members. If the shipping criterion is not met, termination of membership will follow.
Members have the ability to appeal their termination and ask the Board for reinstatement.
Members who cannot deliver 5,000 pounds due to drought, bee losses or other circumstances should send a letter to the Cooperative to request a Leave of Absence and advise the reason that the 5,000-pound shipping rule was not met.
Bulk Container Survey Section:
Once we have received your barrel count, if you receive a letter stating a discrepancy between your physical count and our system, we ask that you please get in touch with us so that the difference can be resolved.
REMINDER: No honey delivery appointments can be booked until we have received your completed 2025/26 Annual Member Survey.
85th Annual Meeting
The 85th Annual Meeting will be held on Wednesday November 12, 2025, at the River Cree Resort, Enoch, AB. Please note we no longer have the option to hold a block of rooms at the River Cree Hotel as we do not get enough reservations to qualify. Please check online for rates and availability. There are also other hotel/accommodation options nearby.
River Cree Resort, 300 East Lapotac Blvd. Enoch, AB.
To make reservations visit rivercreeresort.com/ hotel/ or call 1-844-425-2733.
Letter of Guarantee / Risk Residue / APP Forms
Please submit your signed Letter of Guarantee, Risk Residue and APP Forms when received to Bernadette Juros (bjuros@beemaid.com).
These documents were mailed June 16, 2025. Please submit these documents prior to delivering honey to the Co-operative.
Quota Rate
The Quota Rate for the 2025-26 crop year is set at 100% of your Quota Base. This will be the amount of honey received into Pool A.Honey received over this amount will be received in Pool B. The new shipping base calculations will be sent to Members in July.
Reminder: Inventory Day
Please note that no member EFTs will be processed on Thursday, July 31, 2025 (Inventory Day). The last day for members to request funds is Tuesday July 29, 2025. We ask members to please plan accordingly.
June 2025 Interim Payment
The Board of Directors is pleased to announce that the fourth payment on the 2024-25 honey crop is .25 cents per pound for Pool A and Pool B White honey. This payment will be credited to Members’ accounts on June 16, 2025.
The moisture adjustment will be made at the same time as per the 2024-25 Honey Grading Policy.
*Over 20% - Acceptance will be subject to deduction and our ability to utilize high moisture honey.