UK Will Run Through All Domestic Honey By Christmas As CCD, Weather Cut Harvest In Half

[hatrack]

The annual English honey harvest has dropped to half of its normal level this year, with the appalling summer weather compounding the effects of the sudden and unexplained collapse in the number of bees.

Keepers, farmers and industry have held their first crisis talks over fears that the British honey bee population could be facing near extinction within five years.

There are now fears that English honey could disappear altogether unless the dramatic decline in bee colonies is arrested. Initial estimates show that English hives produced just 6,000 tons of honey this year - half the usual annual level.

Stuart Bailey, chairman of Rowse honey, which supplies several major supermarket chains, said the company has been able to source just 125 tons of English honey this year forcing it to rely more heavily on foreign suppliers despite rocketing prices. "We will be out by Christmas there is no doubt about that," he said.

EDIT

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=&xml=/earth/2008/09/02/eahoney102.xml

[phantom power]

1. Peak honey

You never can tell, with bees.