Ontario is helping beekeepers rebuild their colonies and maintain the essential role honeybees play in the pollination of agricultural crops.

Due to harsh winter conditions this year and other pollinator health issues, the province's bee colonies are expected to experience higher than normal mortality rates. To help offset these losses, Ontario is providing one-time financial assistance of $105 per hive to beekeepers who have 10 hives or more and lose over 40 per cent of their colonies between Jan. 1, 2014, and Oct. 31, 2014.

Registered beekeepers representing over 90 per cent of the hives in Ontario and the majority of pollination services offered by the industry will benefit from the program. The province is also exploring options to provide bee mortality insurance over the longer term.

Source - http://news.ontario.ca/