Nova Scotia beekeepers will have access to more financial support this year.
The Apiculture Sustainable Growth and Health Program will provide eligible beekeepers up to $50,000, an increase from the maximum $27,000 in 2023.
Beekeepers expanding to pollinate more commercial crops can receive $200 per additional hive used for pollination, double the amount available last year. The program's expansion allowance also has funding available for packaged bees, queen bees, queen cells and "nucs" (nucleus colonies), which are frames of bees removed from an established hive to start a bee colony in a new hive.
This is the second year for the Apiculture Sustainable Growth and Health Program, which in addition to support for the expansion of commercial crop pollination, supports and promotes hive health, and the adoption of efficient technologies to help with labour on the farm.
The program is funded through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a 5-year (2023 to 2028), $3.5-billion investment by the federal, provincial and territorial governments to strengthen competitiveness, innovation and resilience of Canada's agriculture, agri-food and agri-based products sector. This includes $1 billion in federal programs and activities and a $2.5-billion commitment that is cost-shared 60% federally and 40% provincially/territorially for agricultural programs that are designed and delivered by provinces and territories.
