THE nation’s almond authority says it is continuing to work with individual states to best manage the bee hive shortage created by the varroa mite incursion in NSW.

The Almond Board of Australia (ABA) has told its grower members that under the varroa eradication response, state jurisdictions are undertaking activities under a risk-management framework.

The ABA said all decisions are being made in the interests of preventing the spread of varroa.

It also said the upcoming Australian almond season would be impacted by being unable to access the full number of hives, and that maximising the number of hives available to all growers was its top priority.

The ABA told its member growers that individual state governments without varroa were reluctant to allow hive movement where there is a potential risk of varroa exposure.