UK-Produced Honey Likely Gone By Christmas As Orchards Face £165M Hit From Bee Losses

[hatrack]

Yeah, I know, The Daily Mail . . . hmm . . .

Home-produced honey could run out by Christmas because of a fall in the UK bee population, experts have warned.
Nearly one in three of Britain's honeybee hives failed to survive last winter and spring, according to the British Beekeeper's Association.

And that will have an effect on the country's honey industry. Stuart Bailey, chairman of the UK's biggest producer, Rowse Honey, said: 'Supplies continue to dribble through and we might have enough for another six weeks or so but I expect it to be gone before Christmas.'

EDIT

It is also feared the decline in bee numbers could have catastrophic consequences for apple growers within a few years. Honeybees pollinate around 90 per cent of apple trees in the spring. If numbers fall too low, it could cost the apple-growing industry up to £165million.

Bee numbers have plummeted in the past 20 years because of bad weather, disease and changes in farming methods. A century ago there were around one million bee hives. Numbers fell to 400,000 in the 1950s before reaching the current level of 240,000.

EDIT

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1078154/British-bee-crisis-halt-honey-supply-weeks.html