FRESNO - (INT) - There’s very little in California’s farming industry that’s been left untouched by the ongoing drought. Bees are no exception.

Besides making honey, bees are crucial to pollinating about one-third of all U.S. crops.

The drought is threatening honey production and the ability of beekeepers to make a living in a state that was once the top honey producer in the country.

Bill Lewis, president of the California Beekeepers Association, manages around 50 billion bees in Southern California. He says that the lack of rain has reduced plants that provide food for the bees and the nectar they turn into honey.

Story Date: October 29, 2014