Honey yields for 2002

Emminant beekeepers in the Belfast area report that this year is a "real washout". The season has been the worst recorded in living memory (50+ years) and many of the local honey shows have been cancelled (eg Dromore).

The Belfast or Northern Ireland Honey Show is being held as normal although the number of entries is expected to be much lower than previous years.

There are reports of hives dying from starvation and several "hunger" swarms at the end of August have been caught and made safe.

Big increases in honey prices are expected with 1 lb jars have been reported as fetching retail prices of upto £4-50