New Brunswick’s Department of Agriculture and Aquaculture has announced the 2009-2010 Honey Bee Expansion Initiative to provide strategic assistance to the New Brunswick beekeeping industry.
This funding program is intended to help commercial beekeepers to expand their existing operations by increasing the number of colonies, and small-scale beekeepers who wish to expand their operations to commercial status
Who is eligible for funding?
- The applicant must be registered as a commercial New Brunswick beekeeper (as per the requirements of the New Brunswick Apiary Inspection Act) in 2009.
- Applicants who are not currently considered a commercial beekeeper must submit an expansion plan, indicating how they will reach commercial status (50 colonies or more by September 15).
- Colonies must be available for pollination within New Brunswick.
- All applicants must submit a plan that includes a summary of their production management practices including disease control and overwintering practices. Applicants with poor management practices (as deemed by the New Brunswick Department of Agriculture and Aquaculture) will not be eligible for funding assistance.
What costs are covered by the program?
- The 2009-2010 New Brunswick Honey Bee Expansion Initiative provides financial assistance for:
- Purchase of colonies
- Purchase of nuclei colonies (nucs)
- Splitting of colonies
Although the season is already well underway, eligible expenditures made since April 1, 2009, may still qualify for funding if they meet the guidelines. Expenditures made before that date are not eligible.
For more information about this program and other NB Strategic Agriculture Initiatives, please contact your nearest regional office of the New Brunswick Department of Agriculture and Aquaculture. Guidelines and Application forms for the Honey Bee Expansion Initiative are available on the NBDAA website at www.gnb.ca/agriculture (select “Strategic Agriculture Initiatives”).
Written by workerbeej
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