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Minnesota Ag News Headlines
Minnesota Colonies Up, But Honey Production Down
Minnesota Ag Connection - 03/23/2017

Honey production from producers with 5 or more colonies in Minnesota totaled 7.32 million pounds in 2016 according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service Honey Report. This was a 12 percent decrease from the 8.30 million pounds produced in 2015. The number of honey producing colonies in the state increased from 122,000 colonies in 2015 to 124,000 colonies in 2016. This number does not include producers with fewer than 5 colonies or producers who did not harvest honey. Colonies that produced honey in more than one state were counted in each state where they produced honey. Yield per colony in Minnesota averaged 59 pounds, down from 68 pounds per colony in 2015. Minnesota moved to 7th place nationally in honey production, down from 6th place in 2015.

On December 15, 2016, producer honey stocks in Minnesota, excluding stocks under government loan programs, were 1.39 million pounds, a 36 percent decrease from 2015. The state's 2016 honey crop was valued at $12.0 million, down 21 percent from the previous year's $15.3 million. The average price per pound for all marketing channels in Minnesota was $1.64, down 20 cents from 2015.

United States honey production in 2016 from producers with five or more colonies totaled 162 million pounds, up 3 percent from 2015. There were 2.78 million colonies from which honey was harvested in 2016, up 4 percent from 2015. Yield of honey harvested per colony averaged 58.3 pounds, down 1 percent from the 58.9 pounds in 2015. 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 41.3 million pounds on December 15, 2016, down 2 percent from a year earlier. Stocks held by producers exclude those held under the commodity loan program.

United States honey production in 2016 from producers with less than five colonies totaled 766 thousand pounds, up 6 percent from 2015. There were 24 thousand colonies from which honey was harvested in 2016, up 4 percent from 2015. The average yield was 31.9 pounds per colony in 2016, up 2 percent from the previous year. This yield is 26.4 pounds less than what was harvested per colony on operations with five or more colonies.

United States honey prices decreased during 2016 to 207.5 cents per pound, down slightly from 208.3 cents per pound in 2015. 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 2015 crop reflect honey sold in 2015 and 2016. Some 2015 honey was sold in 2016, which caused some revisions to the 2015 honey prices. Price data was not collected for operations with less than five colonies.

For operations with five or more colonies, the average prices paid in 2016 for honey bee queens, packages, and nucs were $19, $89, and $117 respectively. The average prices paid in 2016 for operations with less than five colonies were $33 per queen, $109 per package, and $122 per nuc. Comparable data is not available for 2015. For operations with five more colonies, pollination income for 2016 was $338 million, down 1 percent from 2015. Other income from honey bees for operations with five or more colonies in 2016 was $149 million, down 10 percent from 2015.


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