Enhancing producer productivity with next generation advice series: pilot: Alberta beekeepers; honey industry; and pollinator-dependent farms

Project Details

Status: Completed
Investment: $15,250
Commodity: Bees
Organization: AGvisorPRO
Investigator: Patrick Walther

Connecting experts to producers via AgvisorPRO can accelerate understanding and collaboration through disseminating and sharing knowledge among the critical players in the ag value chain to create positive impacts on Alberta's producers.

MARCH 2022

Research Results

In 2021, AGvisorPRO set out to equip beekeepers with timely expertise and resources to respond to production challenges brought on by drought and extreme heat.

  1. Alberta Beekeepers: Avoiding a Crisis

    Beekeeper and Founder of Beanstalk Honey, Tracy Smith, hosts "Alberta Beekeepers: Avoiding a Crisis". In this video, she shares information on issues that Alberta bee colonies face and explains why it's important to be able to recognize a healthy colony and how to identify when something is wrong.

  2. Are Your Bees Ready for Winter?

    Renata Borba, member of the Alberta Beekeepers Commission, hosts "Are Your Bees Ready for Winter?". In this video, she outlines the proper way to wrap your bee colony, including tips on what to avoid to ensure your bees' safety.

  3. Expert advice at your fingertips

    User feedback was gathered throughout this study to improve and enhance AGvisorPRO.

Why is this research important for Alberta ag?

Alberta beekeepers continue to face many challenges including a shortened flowering season due to drought, excessive heat, water quality issues, and disease, and are now concerned about bee health going into the winter. Beekeepers face challenges and are looking for better methods to ensure sustainability and competitiveness in a global marketplace.

Accessing timely advice is essential to ensuring Alberta continues to lead the country in honey production and pollination of hybrid canola seeds and blueberries. Connecting experts to producers via AgvisorPRO can accelerate understanding and collaboration through disseminating and sharing knowledge among the critical players in the ag value chain to create positive impacts on Alberta's producers.

This research will use AgvisorPRO's mobile platform as an effective and efficient "SmartAG" technology to connect those seeking answers to those who have the expertise to answer them.

What benefits can producers expect from this research?

This project will deliver critical information into the hands of beekeepers through use of the platform, which will immediately benefit pollinators with access to timely information and help producers stay competitive and profitable. By leveraging technology, experts can be put in the field without being physically present on-farm.

Funded in part by the Government of Canada under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative.