Students Think Career Profile Apiculture Specialist AKA: Beekeeper Food badges: Production Holland Code: Think He must be a dull man who can examine the exquisite structure of a comb, so beautifully adapted to its end, without enthusiastic admiration. Charles Darwin, Naturalist Geoff Wilson Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture In A Nutshell I manage colonies of bees for the purpose of pollination and production of honey. I build hives, replace combs, and make sure the breeding yards are at an optimal level of production. I collect and properly package honey, beeswax, and pollen, and then sell the products to customers or distributors. Swipe Potential Salary Range $24,000 - 34,000 Annually Which provinces would this job be in? AB Alberta BC British Columbia MB Manitoba NB New Brunswick NL Newfoundland & Labrador NS Nova Scotia ON Ontario PEI Prince Edward Island QC Quebec SK Saskwatchewan I work outside, and spend my day travelling between hives noting honey production, checking for disease, maintaining hives, and recording notes. Workplace Outdoor Job Requirements & Duties Insert honey combs and introduce swarms to new hives Assemble beehives Use a smoke pot and wear personal protective equipment, such as safety suits and nets Understand behaviour of the queen bee and colony characteristics Manage the growth of the hive by eliminating or collecting new queen bee cells Keep the hive healthy by monitoring bee behaviour and treating for mites and disease Education & Training To begin an entry level position as an apiary worker, many employers require a high school diploma. To work in a management or research position, a bachelor’s degree in marketing, business, animal bioscience, biology, or entomology is likely required. 100all Job Outlook The labour demand and the labour supply are expected to be relatively in line for this job over the next ten years; the job outlook is fair. Related School Subjects Science Practical Applied Arts What words come to mind when thinking about this career? Bees Honey Hives Pollinators Important Skills Analytical Thinking Sometimes I look into a hive and notice the bees behaving unusually; I have to quickly analyze the situation to figure out what's wrong. Artboard 32@5x Problem Solving Coding is basically writing a list of instructions for a computer to follow. When things don’t work, I have to work through the instruction list line by line to solve the problem. Patience When working with bees, it's so important to stay calm and be patient to keep the animals you're working with calm as well. interpersonal-man-people-communication-Relation Interpersonal As an advisor, I need to listen actively, and communicate well so my customers feel a professional connection to me and feel supported by my guidance. Swipe The Best Things About This Job Are… Working with Animals Helps Others Working in a Small Business Independent Work Similar Careers Aquaculture Technologist Horticulturist Livestock Groomer & Technician Agricultural Business Advisor Helpful Links Beekeepers- Overview Beekeeping for Beginners Canadian Apiculture Industry The Honey Bee Research Centre snapAG- Bees Career Glossary Etymology Swarm Smoker/Smoke Pot References Canadian Honey Council National Occupational Classification. (2020). Disclaimer All career information has been gathered from a variety of sources and compiled to provide a general idea as to what each career could entail. Agriculture in the Classroom Canada is committed to doing our best to ensure the information is current and reliable. However, we will not be liable for the accuracy of the information. Please contact us if you notice errors or would like to provide feedback.