Australia’s honey crisis

Australia is expected to see a shortfall of close to 300,000 commercial beehives for the peak pollination season in August, as the parasite varroa mite wipes out bees, the Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported June 4. Industry experts are warning of crop failures and a potential food crisis as the bee-killing parasite wipes out at least 60 percent of hives and the costs to combat the mite force half of Australia’s beekeepers to quit. Honeybees contribute $10 billion in value to Australian agriculture, with pollination affecting two thirds of food production. This is just one of the many biblical curses for disobedience that Australia is currently experiencing.