After eight years of designing, local parent and beekeeper Yari McGauley has just launched his nature-inspired board game, Forage, The Bee Game on Kickstarter.com.

Tyagarah residents are alarmed at what they believe to be Varroa mite infested hives in the nature reserve.

In the fight to keep the industry healthy beekeepers and bee industry representatives are gathering today at Southern Cross University for the official launch of the Bee Research and Extension Lab

Apart from the damage caused by varroa mite infestations across the state, the beekeeping industry is also suffering a lot of heartbreak as euthanasia is often the only course of action.

In an ever-increasing threat to the Northern Rivers, the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) say that tracing has uncovered a new Varroa mite infestation in beehives north of the existing Nana Glen purple zone, at Barcoogere in the Coffs Harbour region.

This morning the NSW Varroa Mite General Emergency (Blue) Zone has been declared Varroa mite free with all States and Territories across Australia reaching a unanimous agreement.

Beekeepers are reminded that the Varroa Mite Emergency Order still in effect in NSW, with close to 12,000 hives in the surveillance purple zone and more than 30,000 hives statewide having been tested to date.

Without bees we’re in a bit of trouble – actually, a lot of trouble. Yes, there are other earthlings that pollinate, like wasps, ants and even March flies, but no buzzy body does it better than bees and if we lose them, we’re cactus.

With so many challenges currently surrounding the bee industry, it comes as a relief to many that NSW Department of Primary Industries will issue a special group permit for beekeepers in flood warning areas to move their hives to higher ground.

What many people don’t know is that without bees, the large variety of plant food on their plate will be decimated because these little...