NSW: Queens bees in demand as local honey stocks dwindle

AAP General News (Australia)
02-18-2004
NSW: Queens bees in demand as local honey stocks dwindle

SYDNEY, Feb 18 AAP - The impact of the drought on queen bees has forced NSW to import
honey to meet local demand.

Half of NSW's $45 million honey crop is usually exported but the trend has recently
been reversed as local producers struggle through the drought.

Production of queen bees has been cut by up to 30 per cent as a result of the drought
and breeders are having a tough time supplying apiarists seeking to restock their hives
with queens.

"Good queen bees are important because they help build up a strong, populous hive,
capable of collecting a large honey crop and overcoming mild disease," NSW Agriculture
Minister Ian Macdonald said.

"Half our honey crop is usually exported but due to the influence of the drought on
production we have actually had to import honey to meet local demand."

The NSW industry is worth about $45 million a year, and the state accounts for about
45 per cent of national honey production.

Queen bees are selected and bred for their honey-gathering potential, temperament,
disease resistance, reduced swarming tendency and colour.

There are 40 queen bee breeders in the state.

Mr Macdonald said honey producers have had to shift their businesses to wetter areas
to cope with the impact of the drought.

"Many beekeepers have survived the drought by shifting their stock 500km or more to
follow more favourable conditions and by taking on other jobs to tide them over," he said.

"Like other agricultural industries, they need widespread rains across NSW and Queensland
to revive their industry.

"If they can get their colonies in good shape, they will be able to take advantage
of spring growth and rebuild their honey production base."

AAP sal/sd/tma/br

KEYWORD: HONEY

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