Weather dampens hives' industry

The cool weather is forcing bees to stay inactive in their hives instead of collecting pollen.the north-easterly winds.

The cool weather is forcing bees to stay inactive in their hives instead of collecting pollen.the north-easterly winds.

There is no immediate crisis in honey production, according to beekeepers. But bees are dependent on white clover for honey, said Mr Tom Kehoe, and if the weather does not improve before mid-July, the clover will not be a productive crop.

"My bees have enough to tide them over the bad spell; they are living on the honey they collected three weeks ago," Mr Kehoe said. "If they have nothing, we will have to feed them on sugar syrup."