After fighting the varroa mite for ten years, the bee industry is now facing a new threat.

Beekeepers say the country's transition to dairy farming has wiped out many plants bees rely on for pollen.

Pollen is the main protein for honey bees and beekeepers are reporting a marked decrease in pollen sources nationwide.

With the spread of dairy farms and the need for large open paddocks, areas are cleared of plants like gorse and broom.

From a beekeeping perspective, the dairy farm is a hostile environment, said John Hartnell of Federated Farmers.

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"They've taken away every tree, every bush and everything else and all you have is post and wire and green grass," he said

Beekeepers say they now have to find pollen elsewhere to feed their bees.

Stuart Ecroyd, owner of Ecroyd Beekeeping Supplies, said numerous customers come in to his store requesting pollen supplements.

"It's becoming more and more popular year by year.....becoming more necessary."

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Beekeepers know farmers do not want gorse and broom, but believe there are areas they could let the plants grow, Hartnell said.

"There will be places on that farm, like along the stream boundaries, that are fenced off so no stock can go there," he said.

"Those are the places we want all farmers to focus on for us."

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