Don’t worry, bee happy!

Photo by Mike Moores

THE STATE Government has committed $750,000 over 3 years to Tasmania’s honey and pollination industries, recognising the importance of bees in producing Tasmanian honeys.

Bee pollination of Tasmania’s valuable fruit, vegetable and cereal crops is of critical importance, with an even higher economic value than honey production. The 2017-18 farm-gate value for honey and beeswax was in excess of $8 million, with exports worth $2.4 million.

The Tasmanian Beekeepers Association, Australian Honey Bee Industry Council and Sustainable Timber Tasmania have signed an agreement to ensure that Tasmania’s forests landscape continues to sustain the apiary industry, providing access to important apiary resources such as Manuka and Leatherwood.