Beekeepers play an essential role in the wild blueberry industry as blueberries are highly dependent on insect pollination. Therefor, the partnership between beekeepers and blueberry growers is vital for the industry’s success. Events like the annual summer WBPANS field day provide a valuable opportunity for both groups to connect, share knowledge, and strengthen the industry.

A Review of WBPANS Field Day 2025

On July 16^th, the Wild Blueberry Producers Association of Nova Scotia (WBPANS) hosted their annual summer Field Day at the Nova Scotia Provincial Exhibition grounds in Bible Hill. With 224 registrants, the event brought together wild blueberry producers, researchers, agri-businesses and industry supporters for a full day of learning, networking and celebrating wild blueberries!

The day began with registration at 8:30 am, followed by a welcome and overview of the agenda. The morning was filled with attendees exploring a wide range of agricultural business and machinery displays both inside and outside the pavilion. Researchers were also present to discuss valuable insight provided by their work relating to current challenges and innovations in wild blueberry production. 

Figure 1: The ATTTA Seasonal Apiculturists, Greg Dugas, John MacDonald and Kaitlyn  Newton (left to right) at the WBPANS Field Day! (ATTTA ©, 2025)

Late in the morning, Andrew Dobson, current president of WBPANS, spoke briefly, as well as Peter Burgess, Executive Director. Peter provided updates on the organization, highlighting the ongoing work with the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture (NSDA) on livestock insurance.  Hugh Lyu, Wild Blueberry Extension Specialist with Perennia, delivered an industry update, emphasizing the importance of rainfall in the coming weeks to support a successful harvest. He also shared that this year’s forecast for harvesting could range from 40-50 million pounds.  The Honorable Greg Morrow, NS Minister of Agriculture, also spoke about the province’s collaboration with Perennia to create a network of on farm weather stations across Nova Scotia.  This has proven to help improve data collection and a better understanding of weather for producers. The Kilted Chef, brand ambassador for the wild blueberry industry, added a culinary touch to the day by announcing that one wild blueberry recipe will be released each week for the next five weeks.

Figure 2: Peter Burgess talking (ATTTA©, 2025)

Lunch was catered by The Rustic Table, providing a meal filled with wild blueberries. It consisted of a chicken wrap with wild blueberry spice, a salad with wild blueberry dressing, a cinnamon roll with wild blueberry icing, and a wild blueberry soda by Chill St! In the afternoon, attendees boarded buses for a guided tour of the Dalhousie Agricultural Campus. Participants explored research facilities, the on-campus barn, and greenhouses on campus.

Despite the hot weather, the 2025 WBPANS Field day was a great success, with strong attendance, engaging presentations and a shared appreciation for the wild blueberry industry. Thank you to all the organizers, sponsors and participants who made this event possible!

Written by Kaitlyn Newton, ATTTA Seasonal Apiculturist

Connecting with ATTTA Specialists

If you’d like to connect with ATTTA specialists or learn more about our program, you can:
visit our website at https://www.perennia.ca/portfolio-items/honey-bees/
Email abyers@perennia.ca

With the right support, honey bees can recover after their microbiome has been disrupted by illness or treatment. This delicate community of beneficial microorganisms play a vital role in digestion, immunity and overall bee health. Whether the imbalance is caused by necessary antibiotics like Fumagillin-B®, or by parasites like Nosema spp., bees can become more vulnerable to infections or nutritional stress. Ensuring they have what they need to rebuild their microbiome is crucial for keeping colonies strong.

Bee Strong: Return of the Healthy Gut

Dysbiosis, an imbalance in the gut microbiome, can have serious consequences for honey bee health. Antibiotics such as oxytetracycline and fumagillin, while sometimes necessary, have been shown to reduce core bacteria like Bifidobacteria, weakening the immune system and increasing susceptibility to pathogens ¹.  Recovery from dysbiosis requires active support to help bees rebuild their microbial balance, often through nutrition. Bees need a well-rounded and diverse diet to maintain gut stability and reduce the risk of infections, like Nosema ceranae ².

One way to support recovery after disruption to the gut microbiome is by using probiotics. Probiotics are live bacteria or yeasts that help restore the gut microbiota and promote gut health. They work by increasing populations of beneficial microbes and suppressing pathogens and are often used to treat dysbiosis caused by disease or antibiotic exposure ³. In honey bees, commonly used probiotics are lactic acid bacteria, Bifidobacteria and Bacillus species, which are all microorganisms that are naturally found in a heathy bee gut ⁴. These probiotics have been incorporated into beekeeping as a strategy to help prevent microbial infections ⁴.

Figure 1: Honey Bee on a Flower (ATTTA©, 2020).

Prebiotics are another tool for promoting gut health. These are non-digestible substrates that microbes can utilize to increase growth in the gut ³.  In honey bees, prebiotics are mainly carbohydrates that have oligosaccharides and fibers to help restore microbial balance after being disturbed ³.  Inulin is a type of prebiotic that supports honey bee gut health by promoting the growth of one of the core bacteria, Bifidobacterium ³.  However, it is important to note that poorly chosen combinations of prebiotics and probiotics can worsen bee health, so it is always important that these additives should be carefully selected and used appropriately ³. 

Figure 2: Forager Honey Bees with Pollen (ATTTA©, 2022)

Another important way to help bees maintain a healthy microbiome is by providing good quality nutrition. This can be achieved by ensuring bees have access to a diverse and abundant range of forage. Gathering pollen from multiple floral sources increases the likelihood that bees receive all essential nutrients ⁵ . Hives used for pollination may face nutritional challenges if the surrounding landscape offers limited pollen variety, leading to nutritional stress ⁴. This shortage of diverse pollen can also occur during drought conditions. Meeting the colony’s full nutritional needs can significantly benefit gut health!

 Written by Kaitlyn Newton, ATTTA Seasonal Apiculturist 

Connecting with ATTTA Specialists

If you’d like to connect with ATTTA specialists or learn more about our program, you can:

visit our website at https://www.perennia.ca/portfolio-items/honey-bees/

Email attta@perennia.ca

References:

1.      Mustar, S. and Ibrahim, N., 2022. A sweeter pill to swallow: A review of honey bees and honey as a source of probiotic and prebiotic products. Foods, 11(14), p.2102.

2.      Motta, E.V. and Moran, N.A., 2024. The honeybee microbiota and its impact on health and disease. Nature Reviews Microbiology, 22(3), pp.122-137.

3.      Ptaszyńska, A.A., Borsuk, G., Zdybicka-Barabas, A., Cytryńska, M. and Małek, W., 2016. Are commercial probiotics and prebiotics effective in the treatment and prevention of honeybee nosemosis C?. Parasitology research, 115, pp.397-406.

4.      Tsuruda, J.M., Chakrabarti, P. and Sagili, R.R., 2021. Honey bee nutrition. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Food Animal Practice, 37(3), pp.505-519.

5.      Brodschneider, R. and Crailsheim, K., 2010. Nutrition and health in honey bees. Apidologie, 41(3), pp.278-294.