Honey ISSN: 1949-1492 Released March 14, 2018, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). United States Honey Production Down 9 Percent for Operations with Five or More Colonies in 2017 United States honey production in 2017 from producers with five or more colonies totaled 148 million pounds, down 9 percent from 2016. There were 2.67 million colonies producing honey in 2017, down 4 percent from 2016. Yield per colony averaged 55.3 pounds, down 5 percent from the 58.3 pounds in 2016. Colonies which produced honey in more than one State were counted in each State where the honey was produced. Therefore, at the United States level yield per colony may be understated, but total production would not be impacted. Colonies were not included if honey was not harvested. Producer honey stocks were 30.6 million pounds on December 15, 2017, down 26 percent from a year earlier. Stocks held by producers exclude those held under the commodity loan program. Operations with Less than Five Colonies Produced 599 Thousand Pounds of Honey in 2017 United States honey production in 2017 from producers with less than five colonies totaled 599 thousand pounds, down 22 percent from 2016. There were 20 thousand colonies from which honey was harvested in 2017, down 17 percent from 2016. The average yield was 30.0 pounds per colony in 2017, down 6 percent from the previous year. Honey Prices Up 2 Percent for Operations with Five or More Colonies in 2017 United States honey prices increased 2 percent during 2017 to 215.6 cents per pound, compared to 211.9 cents per pound in 2016. United States and State level prices reflect the portions of honey sold through cooperatives, private, and retail channels. Prices for each color class are derived by weighting the quantities sold for each marketing channel. Prices for the 2016 crop reflect honey sold in 2016 and 2017. Some 2016 crop honey was sold in 2017, which caused some revisions to the 2016 crop prices. Price Paid per Queen was 14 Dollars for Operations with Five or More Colonies in 2017 For operations with five or more colonies, the average prices paid in 2017 for honey bee queens, packages, and nucs were $14, $76, and $107 respectively. The average prices paid in 2017 for operations with less than five colonies were $34 per queen, $117 per package, and $138 per nuc. For operations with five or more colonies, pollination income for 2017 was $435 million, up 29 percent from 2016. Other income from honey bees for operations with five or more colonies in 2017 was $163 million, up 10 percent from 2016. These estimates along with expenditure and apiary worker information can be found on pages 4 and 5 of this report. Number of Colonies, Yield, Production, Stocks, Price, and Value - States and United States: 2016 [Operations with 5 or more colonies that also qualify as a farm. Colonies which produced honey in more than one State were counted in each State] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : Honey : Yield : : : Average : Value State : producing : per : Production : Stocks : price per : of : colonies 1/ : colony : :December 15 2/ : pound 3/ :production 4/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : 1,000 pounds ---- 1,000 pounds ---- cents 1,000 dollars : Alabama ..............: 7 52 364 33 345 1,256 Arizona ..............: 27 46 1,242 261 197 2,447 Arkansas .............: 24 69 1,656 99 185 3,064 California ...........: 310 36 11,160 2,009 204 22,766 Colorado .............: 32 40 1,280 282 224 2,867 Florida ..............: 215 50 10,750 538 243 26,123 Georgia ..............: 96 39 3,744 899 269 10,071 Hawaii ...............: 16 113 1,808 127 231 4,176 Idaho ................: 97 34 3,298 1,253 182 6,002 Illinois .............: 10 48 480 77 542 2,602 : Indiana ..............: 7 62 434 208 346 1,502 Iowa .................: 37 48 1,776 746 208 3,694 Kansas ...............: 7 48 336 54 304 1,021 Kentucky .............: 5 46 230 48 402 925 Louisiana ............: 50 86 4,300 301 194 8,342 Maine ................: 12 34 408 65 338 1,379 Michigan .............: 89 60 5,340 1,709 237 12,656 Minnesota ............: 124 59 7,316 1,390 169 12,364 Mississippi ..........: 19 85 1,615 113 173 2,794 Missouri .............: 8 62 496 30 231 1,146 : Montana ..............: 159 77 12,243 3,183 177 21,670 Nebraska .............: 48 46 2,208 640 191 4,217 New Jersey ...........: 12 27 324 198 709 2,297 New York .............: 64 57 3,648 1,167 319 11,637 North Carolina .......: 12 37 444 89 478 2,122 North Dakota .........: 485 78 37,830 6,809 185 69,986 Ohio .................: 15 79 1,185 664 393 4,657 Oregon ...............: 74 35 2,590 622 191 4,947 Pennsylvania .........: 19 50 950 266 303 2,879 South Carolina .......: 16 45 720 36 457 3,290 : South Dakota .........: 280 71 19,880 12,127 176 34,989 Tennessee ............: 6 55 330 69 488 1,610 Texas ................: 133 70 9,310 2,607 208 19,365 Utah .................: 31 32 992 169 193 1,915 Vermont ..............: 6 52 312 69 364 1,136 Virginia .............: 5 38 190 30 585 1,112 Washington ...........: 84 35 2,940 412 199 5,851 West Virginia ........: 5 32 160 43 392 627 Wisconsin ............: 54 62 3,348 1,205 267 8,939 Wyoming ..............: 40 68 2,720 190 178 4,842 : Other States 5/ 6/ ...: 35 44 1,525 416 424 6,466 : United States 6/ 7/ ..: 2,775 58.3 161,882 41,253 211.9 343,028 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1/ Honey producing colonies are the maximum number of colonies from which honey was harvested during the year. It is possible to harvest honey from colonies which did not survive the entire year. 2/ Stocks held by producers. 3/ Average price per pound based on expanded sales. 4/ Value of production is equal to production multiplied by average price per pound. 5/ Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Rhode Island not published separately to avoid disclosing data for individual operations. 6/ Due to rounding, total colonies multiplied by total yield may not exactly equal production. 7/ United States value of production will not equal summation of States. Number of Colonies, Yield, Production, Stocks, Price, and Value - States and United States: 2017 [Operations with 5 or more colonies that also qualify as a farm. Colonies which produced honey in more than one State were counted in each State] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : Honey : Yield : : : Average : Value State : producing : per : Production : Stocks : price per : of : colonies 1/ : colony : :December 15 2/ : pound 3/ :production 4/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : 1,000 pounds ---- 1,000 pounds ---- cents 1,000 dollars : Alabama ..............: 7 45 315 22 277 873 Arizona ..............: 22 40 880 97 196 1,725 Arkansas .............: 29 77 2,233 223 191 4,265 California ...........: 335 41 13,735 2,198 209 28,706 Colorado .............: 33 43 1,419 284 206 2,923 Florida ..............: 205 43 8,815 529 240 21,156 Georgia ..............: 99 32 3,168 190 296 9,377 Hawaii ...............: 12 131 1,572 16 151 2,374 Idaho ................: 95 44 4,180 1,045 179 7,482 Illinois .............: 11 46 506 167 476 2,409 : Indiana ..............: 7 48 336 128 394 1,324 Iowa .................: 35 58 2,030 1,035 222 4,507 Kansas ...............: 7 79 553 260 418 2,312 Kentucky .............: 5 38 190 42 408 775 Louisiana ............: 43 81 3,483 279 188 6,548 Maine ................: 12 33 396 51 545 2,158 Michigan .............: 87 45 3,915 822 241 9,435 Minnesota ............: 126 62 7,812 1,016 186 14,530 Mississippi ..........: 13 80 1,040 83 181 1,882 Missouri .............: 8 65 520 57 353 1,836 : Montana ..............: 145 72 10,440 2,506 230 24,012 Nebraska .............: 42 63 2,646 423 199 5,266 New Jersey ...........: 13 28 364 167 786 2,861 New York .............: 57 56 3,192 766 301 9,608 North Carolina .......: 11 41 451 99 434 1,957 North Dakota .........: 455 74 33,670 4,377 189 63,636 Ohio .................: 15 73 1,095 657 312 3,416 Oregon ...............: 78 40 3,120 998 189 5,897 Pennsylvania .........: 16 46 736 177 340 2,502 South Carolina .......: 16 34 544 27 306 1,665 : South Dakota .........: 255 57 14,535 6,541 191 27,762 Tennessee ............: 7 41 287 75 468 1,343 Texas ................: 120 66 7,920 2,297 211 16,711 Utah .................: 27 31 837 67 206 1,724 Vermont ..............: 7 45 315 120 417 1,314 Virginia .............: 5 35 175 39 573 1,003 Washington ...........: 77 45 3,465 1,594 225 7,796 West Virginia ........: 6 40 240 50 385 924 Wisconsin ............: 53 56 2,968 683 277 8,221 Wyoming ..............: 39 53 2,067 186 159 3,287 : Other States 5/ 6/ ...: 34 43 1,473 184 411 6,054 : United States 6/ 7/ ..: 2,669 55.3 147,638 30,577 215.6 318,308 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1/ Honey producing colonies are the maximum number of colonies from which honey was harvested during the year. It is possible to harvest honey from colonies which did not survive the entire year. 2/ Stocks held by producers. 3/ Average price per pound based on expanded sales. 4/ Value of production is equal to production multiplied by average price per pound. 5/ Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Rhode Island not published separately to avoid disclosing data for individual operations. 6/ Due to rounding, total colonies multiplied by total yield may not exactly equal production. 7/ United States value of production will not equal summation of States. Number of Colonies, Yield, and Production - United States: 2016 and 2017 [Operations with less than 5 colonies that also qualify as a farm] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Honey : Yield : : State : producing : per : Production : colonies 1/ : colony : : :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 2016 : 2017 : 2016 : 2017 : 2016 : 2017 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 1,000 pounds pounds 1,000 pounds 1,000 pounds : United States 2/ .....: 24 20 31.9 30.0 766 599 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Honey producing colonies are the maximum number of colonies from which honey was harvested during the year. It is possible to harvest honey from colonies which did not survive the entire year. 2/ Due to rounding, total colonies multiplied by total yield may not exactly equal production. Honey Price by Color Class - United States: 2016 and 2017 [Operations with 5 or more colonies that also qualify as a farm] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Price :----------------------------------------------------------------------- Color class : Co-op and private : Retail : All :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : 2016 : 2017 : 2016 : 2017 : 2016 : 2017 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : cents per pound : Water white, extra white, white ...: 189.1 199.9 463.8 380.1 195.5 201.6 : Extra light amber .................: 190.8 202.7 433.7 458.8 200.8 213.5 : Light amber, amber, dark amber ....: 194.8 198.4 452.9 484.8 233.0 232.2 : All other honey, area specialties .: 245.7 285.9 781.6 624.1 385.2 373.8 : All honey .........................: 192.0 201.0 474.5 477.7 211.9 215.6 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Queen, Package, and Nuc Prices Paid - United States: 2016 and 2017 [Operations that qualify as a farm. Represents prices paid by operations, regardless of whether honey produced. For more estimates on the total number of colonies, see the "Honey Bee Colonies" report] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- United States : Queen : Package : Nuc :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 2016 : 2017 : 2016 : 2017 : 2016 : 2017 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : dollars per dollars per dollars per dollars per dollars per dollars per : Operations with .............. : 5 or more colonies ............: 19 14 89 76 117 107 Less than 5 colonies ..........: 33 34 109 117 122 138 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pollination and Other Income - United States: 2016 and 2017 [Operations that qualify as a farm. Represents incomes from the total number of colonies, regardless of whether honey was harvested. For more estimates on the total number of colonies, see the "Honey Bee Colonies" report] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- United States : Pollination income : Other income 1/ :--------------------------------------------------------------- : 2016 : 2017 : 2016 : 2017 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 dollars ---- ---- 1,000 dollars ---- : 5 or more colonies ............: 337,834 435,003 148,523 163,100 Less than 5 colonies ..........: (S) (S) (S) (S) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (S) Insufficient number of reports to establish an estimate. 1/ Includes sales of queens, queen cells, beeswax, propolis, etc. Expenditures for Honey Bee Operations - United States: 2016 and 2017 [Operations that qualify as a farm. Represents expenditures on the total number of colonies, regardless of whether honey was harvested. For more estimates on the total number of colonies, see the "Honey Bee Colonies" report] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : 5 or more colonies : Less than 5 colonies Expenditures :----------------------------------------------------------- : 2016 : 2017 : 2016 : 2017 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ :1,000 dollars 1,000 dollars 1,000 dollars 1,000 dollars : Varroa control and treatment .: 16,042 17,239 262 313 Other colony issues 1/ .......: 6,647 5,919 82 121 Feed 2/ ......................: 50,307 53,075 482 538 Foundation ...................: 7,294 9,776 320 326 Hives/woodenware .............: 9,014 9,989 706 796 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1/ Includes Nosema, tracheal mites, foulbrood, paralysis, Kashmir, cloudy wing, etc. 2/ Includes syrup, sugar water, honey, pollen patties, and other feeds. Apiary Workers - United States: 2016 and 2017 [Operations that qualify as a farm. Represents number of paid and unpaid workers that worked with colonies, regardless of whether honey was harvested. For more estimates on the total number of colonies, see the "Honey Bee Colonies" report] ----------------------------------------------------------------- United States : Apiary workers :------------------------------- : 2016 : 2017 ----------------------------------------------------------------- : workers : 5 or more colonies ............: 24,000 22,000 Less than 5 colonies ..........: 19,000 19,000 ----------------------------------------------------------------- Statistical Methodology Survey Procedures: Data for honey producing operations are collected from a stratified sample of all known operations that also meet USDA's definition of a farm. To qualify as a farm, an operation must be any place from which $1,000 or more of agricultural products were produced and sold, or normally would have been sold, during the year. NASS Regional Field Offices maintain a list of all known operations and use known sources of operations to update their lists. All sampled operations are mailed a questionnaire and given adequate time to respond by mail or electronic data reporting (EDR). Those that do not respond by mail or EDR are telephoned or possibly enumerated in person. Prices are collected by color class and marketing channel from operations with five or more colonies. Estimation Procedures: Sound statistical methodology is employed to derive the estimates from reported data. All data are analyzed for unusual values. Data from each operation are compared to their own past operating profile and to trends from similar operations. Data for missing operations were estimated based on similar operations or historical data. State offices prepare these estimates by using a combination of survey indications and historic trends. Prices for each color class are derived by weighting the quantities sold for each marketing channel. Individual State estimates are reviewed by the Agricultural Statistics Board for reasonableness. Revision Policy: The previous year's estimates are subject to revision when current year's estimates are made. Revisions are the result of late reports or corrected data. Price revisions can be the result of additional sales reported the following year. Estimates will also be reviewed after data from the 5-year Census of Agriculture are available. No revisions will be made after that date. Reliability: Since all operations are not included in the sample, survey estimates are subject to sampling variability. Survey results are also subject to non-sampling errors such as omissions, duplication, and mistakes in reporting, recording, and processing the data. While these errors cannot be measured directly, they are minimized through strict quality controls in the data collection process and a careful review of all reported data for consistency and reasonableness. To assist in evaluating the reliability of the estimates in this report, the "Root Mean Square Error" is shown for selected items in the following table. The "Root Mean Square Error" is a statistical measure based on past performance and is computed using the differences between first and final estimates. The "Root Mean Square Error" for honey producing colonies over the past 10 years is 1.3 percent. This means that chances are 2 out of 3 that the final estimate will not be above or below the current estimate of 2.67 million colonies by more than 1.3 percent. Chances are 9 out of 10 that the difference will not exceed 2.4 percent. Reliability of Honey Estimates [Based on data for the past 10 years] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Root mean : 90 percent : Difference between first and latest estimate : square error : confidence : : : : : : : level :------------------------------------------------------------- Item : : : : : : Years : : : : : :------------------------------- : : : Average :Smallest : Largest : Below latest : Above latest -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : percent percent 1,000 1,000 1,000 ----- number ---- : Honey producing colonies .....: 1.3 2.4 17 - 85 4 1 : Honey production .............: 1.3 2.4 1,073 - 4,796 3 2 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Represents zero. Information Contacts Listed below are the commodity specialists in the Livestock Branch of the National Agricultural Statistics Service to contact for additional information. E-mail inquiries may be sent to nass@nass.usda.gov Travis Averill, Chief, Livestock Branch ........................................................ (202) 720-3570 Bruce Boess, Head, Poultry and Specialty Commodities Section ................................... (202) 720-4447 Holly Brenize - Egg Products, Mink........................................................... (202) 720-0585 Aaron Cosgrove - Catfish Production, Poultry Slaughter, Trout Production, Turkey Hatchery, Turkeys Raised ......................................................................... (202) 690-3237 Alissa Cowell-Mytar - Cold Storage, Capacity of Refrigerated Warehouses ..................... (202) 720-4751 Mike Guo - Cost of Pollination, Honey, Honey Bee Colonies ................................... (202) 720-6147 Fatema Haque - Broiler Hatchery, Chicken Hatchery ........................................... (202) 720-3244 Kim Linonis - Layers, Eggs .................................................................. (202) 690-3676 Miste Salmon - Census of Agriculture, Census of Aquaculture ................................. (202) 690-8632 Access to NASS Reports For your convenience, you may access NASS reports and products the following ways: All reports are available electronically, at no cost, on the NASS web site: www.nass.usda.gov Both national and state specific reports are available via a free e- mail subscription. To set-up this free subscription, visit www.nass.usda.gov and click on "National" or "State" in upper right corner above "search" box to create an account and select the reports you would like to receive. 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