An Open Letter to Ontarians.

Getting the Facts Straight on Honey Bees

It’s not every day that we, the 28,000 farm families in Ontario, ask for support from our fellow Ontarians. Then again, having newly proposed agricultural regulations threaten our ability to provide you with made-in-Ontario food, fibre and fuel isn’t an everyday occurrence. We’re referring to Ontario’s proposed restriction of a certain class of seed treatments, neonicotinoids, with the intention of “protecting” honey bees. The fact is, these regulations will not benefit honey bees, but they will strip farmers of a vital pest management tool. As farmers, we stand by our commitment to the environment – down to every acre of land, litre of fresh water and vital honey bee. It’s why we’re sharing the facts about honey bee health:

Honey bee colonies and honey production have increased, not decreased in Ontario • Statistics Canada data demonstrates that in Ontario, honey bee colony numbers are up almost 60 per cent since 2003, when the use of neonicotinoid seed treatments were introduced. Honey production has increased by 29 per cent in the past year, and Ontario has a successful honey beekeeping industry which earned $30 million in 2014. • Health Canada recently released a report indicating that, in 2014, the number of honey bee incidents reported during planting was down 70 per cent from 2013. And, of the late season issues reported, 72 per cent were made by only three beekeepers out of 3,262.

Neonicotinoids are used safely in Canada and around the world

• 85 per cent of Canadian honey is produced in western Canada where there are no known honey bee

colony health issues resulting from neonicotinoid seed treatment use. • Other countries, including England and Australia, that rely on science-based regulatory systems have

concluded that any risk to honey bee populations from neonicotinoids is low and manageable. • Here in Ontario, real-world field level research consistently demonstrates that responsible use of

neonicotinoid seed treatments does not result in honey bee colony health issues.

Changes to government reporting are misleading the public

• The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs changed the criteria for reporting colony

mortality in the province, resulting in inflated reports of overwinter mortality losses in Ontario.

The fact is most bee experts agree that the top health issues for honey bees are parasites, diseases, inadequate nutrition, adverse weather and hive management practices. Bees matter to agriculture. Bees matter to all of us. That’s why we have worked diligently to enhance our production practices, adopt new technologies to reduce risk, and championed best management practices of the products needed to support agricultural production. As stewards of the land, we care deeply about the environment. We have, and will continue to promote honey bee health, but we ask Ontarians to stand with us in demanding that decisions impacting our food, fibre and fuel supply be made with sound science and facts. Please support Ontario farm families by spreading awareness of this important issue, because #BeesMatter to everyone.