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At the end of a long day in the field, Ontario beekeeper Hugh Simpson is on his way to a meeting, where he’s looking forward to a packed agenda talking shop. Bee talk. Honey discourse.

And absolutely not about banning pesticides.

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In March, Mr. Simpson was involved in forming the Independent Commercial Beekeepers. So far, the group has attracted about 20 members, based out of Ontario’s Grey-Bruce region, who meet every so often to talk about the business of beekeeping — how much honey their hives are producing, the prices they’re getting on the market and equipment they’re eyeing.

And definitely not about banning pesticides.

Mr. Simpson has had enough of that. The debate over bees and crop pesticides, specifically neonicotinoids, has been everywhere. Beekeepers — certain beekeepers — have been all over the media beefing about massive bee die-offs, blaming neonic pesticides, and demanding bans.