Wisconsin Ag Connection - Wisconsin Honey Crop Ranks Second Nationally in '06

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Wisconsin Honey Crop Ranks Second Nationally in '06
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 03/02/2007

Honey production from producers with five or more colonies in Wisconsin totaled 5.95 million pounds in 2006, an increase of 12 percent from 2005. According to the USDA, the number of honey producing colonies in the Badger State remained the same at 64,000, with yield per colony averaging 93 pounds, an increase of 10 pounds per colony over the previous year.

Wisconsin, along with Hawaii, had the second highest yield in the nation. The state's rank in honey production for 2006 was seventh, one spot higher than last year.

As of December, producer honey stocks in Wisconsin were 2.50 million pounds, a decrease of 14 percent from 2005. Wisconsin's 2006 honey crop was valued at $6.79 million, up seven percent from last year's $6.32 million. The average price for a pound of honey in Wisconsin was $1.14, down five cents from the previous year. State level honey prices reflect the portions of honey sold through retail, co-op, and private channels.

National honey production in 2006 was 155 million pounds, a decrease of 11 percent from 2005. There were 2.39 million honey producing colonies in the U.S., down slightly from 2.41 million last year. The average yield fell 11 percent to 64.7 pounds per colony. In December, honey producers held 60.5 million pounds in stock, down three percent from last year. Many honey producers in the Eastern states saw lower yields in 2006 than the previous year.

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