A shortage of bee hives due to varroa mite restrictions is threatening to cause millions of dollars of losses to almond farmers in Australia.
According to Almond Board of Australia chief executive Tim Jackson, farmers could be hit with significant losses as a ban on New South Wales (NSW) hives being moved into Victoria coincided with the start of the almond pollination season.
Jackson said the ban could result in a drop in almond production of 30,000 tonnes as Victoria grew 60 percent of Australia’s almonds, which would take a massive toll on the industry.
“It’s potentially a multi-million dollar loss,” he told AAP….