HELP FOR BEEKEEPERS: PROVINCE ANNOUNCES $1.9-MILLION PROGRAM TO AID
QUEBEC

INDUSTRY DEVASTATED BY PARASITE MITE

September 26, 2003

The Gazette (Montreal)

B3

Kevin Dougherty

The Quebec agriculture department was cited as announcing a
$1.9-million

program yesterday to help Quebec beekeepers whose hives have been
devastated

this year by the parasite mite Varroa destructor.

In announcing the program, Agriculture Minister Francoise Gauthier was
cited

as saying that Quebec's 200 beekeepers have 37,000 hives, and Varroa

destructor has wiped out "no less than 50 per cent" of them this year.

Denis Pellerin, of the beekeepers association, was cited as saying the

damage is even worse in terms of honey production. For 2003, honey

production in Quebec is between one-third and one-quarter of the usual

amount.

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