Harvest activities are bustling at a family-operated honey farm in central Alberta, but there is apprehension looming over this year’s honey production due to uncertainties surrounding a trade agreement with the United States.
Lorne Prins, the owner of Gull Lake Honey situated approximately 130 kilometers south of Edmonton, expressed concerns over the potential impact of a 50 percent U.S. tariff on honey, which could disrupt the primary export market for local producers.
The sudden threat of tariffs by the U.S. administration in July caught the industry off guard, as Canadian honey was previously exempt from tariffs under the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA). This threat, combined with the challenges posed by a wet summer affecting honey production levels, has added additional pressure on producers like Prins.
Rod Scarlett, the executive director of the Canadian Honey Council, conveyed surprise at the inclusion of honey among goods facing potential tariffs. The Canadian honey industry, generating over $241 million in revenues in 2025, heavily relies on Alberta, which accounts for a significant portion of honey production in Canada.
Despite primarily selling locally, Prins anticipates adverse effects from the tariffs, with domestic prices likely to plummet if the top international buyer is lost. Canadian beekeepers are rushing to export honey to the U.S. before the tariffs come into effect, with U.S. packers adjusting delivery dates and prices to secure Canadian honey supplies.
The tariff threat has exacerbated the challenges faced by beekeepers like Jeremy Olthof, owner of Tees Bees, who highlighted the added stress in a year already impacted by weather disruptions. The potential drop in prices due to tariffs could severely impact businesses in the sector.
Barbara McKenzie, the executive director of the Alberta Beekeepers Commission, emphasized the catastrophic consequences of losing access to the U.S. market, affecting producers’ ability to sustain their operations and impacting the broader agriculture industry’s pollination activities.
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) has engaged with industry stakeholders to address potential impacts, outlining support programs like AgriInvest and AgriStability to mitigate losses. However, the looming deadline for resolving the trade issue has local producers anxiously waiting and hoping for a resolution before adverse effects materialize.