Water is not the only thing drying up in NSW - so too is liquid gold.
As the drought continues to sting and bushfires wipe out critical bee habitats, NSW is facing a honey shortage with production down by 30 per cent.
It's got so bad that some beekeepers have not turned their extractors for five months while others have needed to travel outside their usually area to keep bees healthy.
"Some people are struggling with the drought," Neil Bingley from NSW Apiarist Association said.
Mr Bingley added the bushfires in Tingha had contributed to loss of reserves with the stringy bark honey region "barbecued".
"It's a reserve that will be lost for years," he said.
It comes as the State Government has announced 50 new apiary sites that are available on the Local Land Services Travelling Stock Reserves, reserves in the Central West, Northern Tablelands, Murray and South East region - and they are calling for beekeepers to submit Expression of Interest (EOI).
Primary Industries Minister Niall Blair said the new EOI process was developed to ensure a consistent and fair approach when allocating apiary sites on public land.
Mr Blair said previously each agency applied a different system for site allocation, which created administrative burdens and uncertainty for the industry.
“It will provide beekeepers in NSW with a fair and transparent allocation, certainty of tenure and a single pricing structure across all public land sites," Mr Blair said.
There are 6400 registered beekeepers in NSW that contribute $34 million to the economy.
It is estimated that 40 per cent of apiary sites used by commercial apiarists in NSW are on public lands, with Forestry Corporation of NSW, Local Land Services and National Parks and Wildlife Service the key agencies responsible for managing these sites.
NSW Department of Primary Industries, apiary program coordinator, Nick Geoghegan said to keep beehives on public land in NSW you must hold a permit or license.
“Beekeeping is a unique primary industry and beekeepers must often move their hives large distances to be successful," Mr Geoghegan said.
Applications for apiary sites on public land ‘EOI’ will close on February 27. There will be a review of applications with the allocation process is expected to be completed by March 27.
For more information visit the NSW Department of Primary Industries website or email apiary.sites@dpi.nsw.gov.au
Journalist based on the Mid North Coast for The Land.
Journalist based on the Mid North Coast for The Land.
