Alberta beekeepers are getting a helping hand from the federal and provincial governments.

The recently-announced Canada-Alberta Bee Colony Replacement Assistance Initiative will compensate beekeepers who've had to purchase replacement colonies after a particularly gruelling winter.

During the winter of 2021-2022, extreme cold and infestations of varroa mites led to losses of around 50 per cent, according to the Government of Alberta.

Usually, beekeepers face losses of around 27 per cent over winter.

The initiative will provide compensation to beekeepers who've had to purchase colonies, queens, or packages between January 1, 2022, and May 1, 2023.

Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation and Highwood MLA RJ Sigurdson was quoted in a release from the provincial government.

"Bees are key to Alberta's agriculture industry. Crop producers rely on them as pollinators, and they produce millions of pounds of honey every year. This program will help our beekeepers mitigate some of their costs after a tough couple winters and continue to produce the honey in demand across the world."

Alberta is the largest producer of honey in Canada, with $18 million worth of honey exported in 2022.

The provincial release describes the eligibility criteria:

Registered commercial beekeepers with 100 or more colonies under Alberta's Bee Act may be eligible for compensation to mitigate extraordinary costs associated with purchased colony, bee packages or queens between Jan. 1, 2022, and May 1, 2023.

Completed application forms and all supporting documents are due by July 31. An AFSC identification number is required. Applicants may submit their applications through AFSC Connect online, in person at a branch office or by fax.