Honey Bee Health Initiative
Highlights
This program is perfect for your beekeeping business. It offers 50% cost-share funding up to $25,000 for commercial beekeepers and $4,500 for hobbyist beekeepers. This funding can help you make vital improvements to your operations, reducing biosecurity risks and overwintering losses. You can also use it to manage or prevent the spread of honey bee pests and diseases.
What You Get:
- Operational improvements to reduce biosecurity risks and overwintering loss
- Purchase or modification of equipment or facilities to improve hive health
- Adoption of best management practices to prevent the spread of pests and diseases
- Sampling and analysis for pests and diseases
- Purchase of new honey bee stock or queens to ensure genetic diversity
This program is easier to qualify for than many others, and being approved can significantly enhance your beekeeping operations. By participating, you can ensure healthier, more resilient honey bee colonies, which is crucial for the sustainability of your business.
Financing Details
Type of Financing: Cost-Share Funding
Repayment Terms and Interest Rates:
- No repayment terms or interest rates apply as this is a cost-share funding program.
Eligible Expenses:
- Operational improvements to reduce biosecurity risks and overwintering loss.
- Management or prevention of honey bee pests and diseases.
- Purchase or modification of equipment or facilities to improve hive health.
- Adoption of best management practices for pest and disease prevention.
- Sampling and analysis for pests and diseases.
- Purchase of new honey bee stock or queens to ensure genetic diversity.
Ineligible Expenses:
- Funds cannot be used for activities not directly related to improving honey bee health and management.
- General operational costs not specified in the eligible expenses.
Fees:
- No fees are associated with applying for or receiving this cost-share funding.
Qualifications
- Must have a valid certificate of registration issued under the Bees Act for the current beekeeping season.
- Must have proof of completing a pest management course related to honeybees specific to Ontario within the last two years, or proof of completing a diploma or degree in beekeeping within the last five years from a recognized institution.
- Must submit an application electronically through the OSCIA Portal.
Must include quotes or proposals for all proposed activities to support costs.
Disqualifications:
- Incomplete applications.
- Applications not submitted through the OSCIA Portal.
- Lack of a valid certificate of registration under the Bees Act.
- No proof of recent pest management course or relevant beekeeping diploma/degree.
Description
This program offers 50% cost-share funding to help you maintain and grow healthy honey bee colonies. As a registered commercial beekeeper, you can receive up to $25,000. If you are a registered hobbyist beekeeper, you can get up to $4,500.
Funding can be used for:
- Improving operations to reduce biosecurity risks and overwintering losses.
- Managing or preventing the spread of honey bee pests and diseases.
- Purchasing or modifying equipment or facilities to enhance hive health.
- Adopting best management practices for pest and disease prevention.
- Sampling and analyzing for pests and diseases.
- Buying new honey bee stock or queens to ensure genetic diversity.
This initiative is designed to support your efforts in keeping your bee colonies healthy and sustainable, which is crucial for the beekeeping industry in Ontario.
Program Steps
Read the Program Guide: Carefully read the Honey Bee Health Initiative Program Guide. It contains information on eligible activities, costs, available cost-share, and required documentation.
Create an Account on the OSCIA Portal: Visit the OSCIA Portal to create an account. Complete the Enrolment Form to access the application process.
Prepare Required Documentation: Gather the following documents:
- Application Form
- Valid certificate of registration issued under the Bees Act for the current beekeeping season
- Proof of completing a pest management course related to honeybees specific to Ontario within the last two years, or a diploma/degree in beekeeping within the last five years from a recognized institution
- Quotes or proposals for all proposed activities to support costs
Complete the Application Form: Fill out the application form with accurate and detailed information about your beekeeping operation and proposed activities.
Submit the Application: Submit your completed application form and all required documentation electronically through the OSCIA Portal.
Await Confirmation: After submission, await confirmation from the program administrators. They may contact you for additional information or clarification.
Review Approval Notification: If approved, review the approval notification letter carefully. Follow any instructions provided for the next steps.
Implement Approved Activities: Once approved, proceed with the implementation of the approved activities as outlined in your application.
Submit Claims for Reimbursement: Refer to the instructions in your approval notification letter and the online program guide to submit claims for reimbursement of eligible costs.