Local Beekeeper Expresses Importance of Honeybees and Native Pollinators

With honeybees playing a critical role in agriculture and food production, one local beekeeper is calling attention to their importance—and the growing need to protect both domesticated bees and native pollinators.

Dale Lewis, owner of Youngest Son Beekeeping near MacGregor, Manitoba, has been raising bees since he was 14 years old. Now managing around 250 hives, Lewis says honeybees are vital not only for honey production but also for pollinating crops that feed communities.

“The bulk of the pollination around here is done by bees,” explains Lewis “Beekeepers bring their hives to crops to ensure good pollination, which boosts yields and leads to more food per acre.”

However, bee populations are increasingly at risk. Lewis said that while his farm once lost fewer than 5% of its hives over winter, this year saw a 20% loss—better than Manitoba’s average loss of 40 to 60%. To mitigate winter mortality, Lewis winters his bees indoors in a specially built, climate-controlled facility.