State Statistical Report FE98HON1

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HONEY

February 25, 1998

USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service | 1222 Woodward Street | Orlando, Florida 32803 | 407 / 648-6013

FLORIDA: Honey production in 1997 was 16,080,000 pounds, down 36 percent from 1996. Florida ranked third in production behind California and North Dakota. There were 240,000 colonies in Florida in 1997, the same number as in 1996. The average yield for the State was 67 pounds per colony, falling from a record 105 pounds in 1996, and the lowest level since 1989. Production in 1997 was down drastically from the previous year due to bad weather, Varroa mites, and flooding.
Producers received an average of 73 cents per pound for the honey, down from 86 cents per pound received the previous year. The value of the State production was $11.7 million, down from the 1996 crop value of $21.7 million.

FLORIDA: Number of Colonies, Honey Production, Value, and Stocks, 1989-97

Year Colonies
of
bees ^1/ Honey

Yield per
colony Produc-
tion Price
per pound Value Stocks
Dec 15^2/

1,000 colonies Pounds 1,000 pounds Cents 1,000 dollars 1,000 pounds

1989 250 60 15,000 48 7,200 1,050

1990 220 95 20,900 48 10,032 1,881

1991 225 83 18,675 53 9,898 1,307

1992 220 104 22,880 53 12,126 2,517

1993 200 113 22,600 50 11,300 2,712

1994 230 84 19,320 47 9,080 2,898

1995 230 86 19,780 64 12,659 1,780

1996 ^3/ 240 105 25,200 86 21,672 2,268

1997 ^4/ 240 67 16,080 73 11,738 2,734

^1/ Operations with 5 or more colonies.
^2/ Stocks in producers' hands.
^3/ Revised.
^4/ Preliminary.

UNITED STATES: Honey production in 1997 from producers with five or more colonies totaled 192 million pounds, down 3 percent from 1996. There were 2.56 million colonies producing honey in 1996. Yield per colony averaged 74.6 pounds, down 2.7 pounds from the 77.3 pounds in 1996. Colonies which produced in more than one State were counted in each State and yields per colony may be understated. Colonies were not counted if honey was not harvested. Producer honey stocks were 69.1 million pounds on December 15, 1997.
Prices for the 1997 crop averaged a record high 75.2 cents per pound, down 15 percent from the previous record price of 88.8 cents in 1996. Prices are based on retail sales by producers and sales to private processors and co-ops. At the U.S. level, prices for each color are derived by weighting State average prices by the State quantities sold for each marketing channel. Prices were lower for all color classes in 1997.

UNITED STATES: Number of Colonies, Honey Production, Value and Stocks, 1989-97

Year Colonies
of bees^1/ Honey

Yield
per colony Produc-
tion Price per
pound^2/ Value Stocks
Dec 15^3/

1,000 colonies Pounds 1,000 pounds Cents 1,000 dollars 1,000 pounds

1989 3,443 51.4 176,957 49.8 89,418 32,542

1990 3,210 61.6 197,791 53.7 107,747 31,060

1991 3,181 68.9 219,171 55.6 121,859 36,231

1992 3,030 72.8 220,584 55.0 121,321 38,933

1993 2,876 80.2 230,655 53.9 124,323 49,049

1994 2,770 78.4 217,168 52.8 114,665 59,813

1995 2,648 79.5 210,516 64.4 144,203 42,236

1996 ^4/ 2,564 77.3 198,197 88.8 175,999 46,967

1997 ^5/ 2,579 74.6 192,393 75.2 144,680 69,059

^1/ Operations with 5 or more colonies.
^2/ Weighted by reported sales.
^3/ Stocks in producers' hands.
^4/ Revised.
^5/ Preliminary.

UNITED STATES: Honey Prices by Color Class and Buyer, 1996 and 1997

Color class Co-op and Private Retail All

1996^1/ 1997 1996^1/ 1997 1996^1/ 1997

Cents per pound

Water white, extra white, and white 89 .3 74 .3 115 .4 117 .9 90 .4 75 .7

Extra light amber 83 .7 72 .7 115 .6 123 .8 87 .8 76 .4

Light amber, amber, and dark amber 81 .9 68 .1 115 .9 127 .1 85 .9 72 .8

All other honey, area specialties 79 .8 66 .0 192 .1 201 .0 94 .3 79 .8

All honey 86 .4 72 .2 117 .3 125 .7 88 .8 75 .2

^1/ Revised. Includes honey produced in 1996 that was sold in 1997.

HONEY: Number of Colonies, Production, Stocks, and Value, 1996-97^1/

State Number of
colonies Yield per
colony Production Stocks
Dec 15^2/ Average price
per pound Value of
production

1996 1997 1996 1997 1996 1997 1996 1997 1996 1997 1996 1997

1,000 colonies Pounds 1,000 pounds Cents 1,000 dollars

Alabama 15 14 64 66 960 924 96 92 87 81 835 748

Arizona 32 32 60 80 1,920 2,560 307 1,024 85 72 1,632 1,843

Arkansas 40 40 84 95 3,360 3,800 336 2,774 85 70 2,856 2,660

California 390 400 70 75 27,300 30,000 4,641 9,000 84 70 22,932 21,000

Colorado 30 35 74 55 2,220 1,925 1,132 982 85 82 1,887 1,579

Florida 240 240 105 67 25,200 16,080 2,268 2,734 86 73 21,672 11,738

Georgia 75 75 68 46 5,100 3,450 306 587 88 79 4,488 2,726

Hawaii 8 9 155 146 1,240 1,314 62 158 81 86 1,004 1,130

Idaho 110 120 45 64 4,950 7,680 1,535 2,304 88 72 4,356 5,530

Illinois 11 7 74 69 814 483 285 222 135 127 1,099 613

Indiana 9 8 75 71 675 568 412 352 103 113 695 642

Iowa 58 51 67 74 3,886 3,774 933 2,000 95 86 3,692 3,246

Kansas 16 17 51 71 816 1,207 294 688 94 81 767 978

Kentucky 3 3 60 60 180 180 23 54 128 148 230 266

Louisiana 37 38 106 115 3,922 4,370 784 656 83 70 3,255 3,059

Maine 9 8 23 19 207 152 21 9 106 70 219 106

Maryland 7 6 32 40 224 240 40 65 121 159 271 382

Michigan 90 85 96 70 8,640 5,950 4,320 3,273 101 77 8,726 4,582

Minnesota 150 145 77 73 11,550 10,585 1,617 2,011 90 74 10,395 7,833

Mississippi 17 19 80 73 1,360 1,387 299 777 87 73 1,183 1,013

Missouri 22 24 74 77 1,628 1,848 326 517 92 78 1,498 1,441

Montana 117 107 60 120 7,020 12,840 1,825 4,237 88 74 6,178 9,502

Nebraska 65 61 75 67 4,875 4,087 1,755 2,738 92 77 4,485 3,147

Nevada 14 14 61 61 854 854 68 171 105 114 897 974

New Jersey 5 8 45 49 225 392 119 161 82 104 185 408

New Mexico 15 15 77 60 1,155 900 219 396 91 87 1,051 783

New York 68 72 80 60 5,440 4,320 2,557 2,246 89 85 4,842 3,672

North Carolina 12 8 44 58 528 464 53 139 104 119 549 552

North Dakota 230 245 86 100 19,780 24,500 4,945 7,350 90 74 17,802 18,130

Ohio 24 22 70 80 1,680 1,760 840 827 96 85 1,613 1,496

Oklahoma 4 4 59 58 236 232 54 97 109 137 257 318

Oregon 55 47 59 53 3,245 2,491 1,071 1,445 93 79 3,018 1,968

Pennsylvania 23 22 46 48 1,058 1,056 370 528 102 100 1,079 1,056

South Dakota 240 240 97 65 23,280 15,600 6,751 8,736 90 74 20,952 11,544

Tennessee 5 6 64 62 320 372 90 126 154 147 493 547

Texas 82 94 83 106 6,806 9,964 1,361 3,188 85 75 5,785 7,473

Utah 34 32 46 52 1,564 1,664 328 699 85 75 1,329 1,248

Vermont 4 5 83 63 332 315 93 249 101 83 335 261

Virginia 7 8 50 53 350 424 119 157 148 145 518 615

Washington 57 54 58 52 3,306 2,808 1,025 1,348 90 76 2,975 2,134

West Virginia 10 8 59 70 590 560 207 280 159 111 938 622

Wisconsin 69 79 78 60 5,382 4,740 2,422 2,797 90 90 4,844 4,266

Wyoming 40 38 73 62 2,920 2,356 526 660 90 75 2,628 1,767

Other States^3/ 15 14 121 83 996 1,162 132 205 279 145 1,243 1,685

United States^4/ 2,564 2,579 77.3 74.6 198,197 192,393 46,967 69,059 88.8 75.2 175,999 144,680

^1/ 1996 data revised.
^2/ Does not include stocks under loan.
^3/ CT, DE, MA, NH, RI , and SC not published separately to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.
^4/ U.S. price weighted by survey expanded sales.

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FLORIDA: Number of Colonies, Honey Production, Value, and Stocks, 1989-97
Year	Colonies of bees ^1/	Honey
Year	Colonies of bees ^1/	Yield per colony	Produc- tion	Price per pound	Value	Stocks Dec 15^2/

	1,000 colonies	Pounds	1,000 pounds	Cents	1,000 dollars	1,000 pounds

1989	250	60	15,000	48	7,200	1,050
1990	220	95	20,900	48	10,032	1,881
1991	225	83	18,675	53	9,898	1,307
1992	220	104	22,880	53	12,126	2,517
1993	200	113	22,600	50	11,300	2,712
1994	230	84	19,320	47	9,080	2,898
1995	230	86	19,780	64	12,659	1,780
1996 ^3/	240	105	25,200	86	21,672	2,268
1997 ^4/	240	67	16,080	73	11,738	2,734
^1/ Operations with 5 or more colonies. ^2/ Stocks in producers' hands. ^3/ Revised. ^4/ Preliminary.

UNITED STATES: Number of Colonies, Honey Production, Value and Stocks, 1989-97
Year	Colonies of bees^1/	Honey
Year	Colonies of bees^1/	Yield per colony	Produc- tion	Price per pound^2/	Value	Stocks Dec 15^3/

	1,000 colonies	Pounds	1,000 pounds	Cents	1,000 dollars	1,000 pounds

1989	3,443	51.4	176,957	49.8	89,418	32,542
1990	3,210	61.6	197,791	53.7	107,747	31,060
1991	3,181	68.9	219,171	55.6	121,859	36,231
1992	3,030	72.8	220,584	55.0	121,321	38,933
1993	2,876	80.2	230,655	53.9	124,323	49,049
1994	2,770	78.4	217,168	52.8	114,665	59,813
1995	2,648	79.5	210,516	64.4	144,203	42,236
1996 ^4/	2,564	77.3	198,197	88.8	175,999	46,967
1997 ^5/	2,579	74.6	192,393	75.2	144,680	69,059
^1/ Operations with 5 or more colonies. ^2/ Weighted by reported sales. ^3/ Stocks in producers' hands. ^4/ Revised. ^5/ Preliminary.

UNITED STATES: Honey Prices by Color Class and Buyer, 1996 and 1997
Color class	Co-op and Private		Retail		All
Color class	1996^1/	1997	1996^1/	1997	1996^1/	1997

	Cents per pound

Water white, extra white, and white	89 .3	74 .3	115 .4	117 .9	90 .4	75 .7
Extra light amber	83 .7	72 .7	115 .6	123 .8	87 .8	76 .4
Light amber, amber, and dark amber	81 .9	68 .1	115 .9	127 .1	85 .9	72 .8
All other honey, area specialties	79 .8	66 .0	192 .1	201 .0	94 .3	79 .8

All honey	86 .4	72 .2	117 .3	125 .7	88 .8	75 .2


^1/ Revised. Includes honey produced in 1996 that was sold in 1997.

HONEY: Number of Colonies, Production, Stocks, and Value, 1996-97^1/
State	Number of colonies		Yield per colony		Production		Stocks Dec 15^2/		Average price per pound		Value of production
State	1996	1997	1996	1997	1996	1997	1996	1997	1996	1997	1996	1997
	1,000 colonies		Pounds		1,000 pounds				Cents		1,000 dollars

Alabama	15	14	64	66	960	924	96	92	87	81	835	748
Arizona	32	32	60	80	1,920	2,560	307	1,024	85	72	1,632	1,843
Arkansas	40	40	84	95	3,360	3,800	336	2,774	85	70	2,856	2,660
California	390	400	70	75	27,300	30,000	4,641	9,000	84	70	22,932	21,000
Colorado	30	35	74	55	2,220	1,925	1,132	982	85	82	1,887	1,579
Florida	240	240	105	67	25,200	16,080	2,268	2,734	86	73	21,672	11,738
Georgia	75	75	68	46	5,100	3,450	306	587	88	79	4,488	2,726
Hawaii	8	9	155	146	1,240	1,314	62	158	81	86	1,004	1,130
Idaho	110	120	45	64	4,950	7,680	1,535	2,304	88	72	4,356	5,530
Illinois	11	7	74	69	814	483	285	222	135	127	1,099	613
Indiana	9	8	75	71	675	568	412	352	103	113	695	642
Iowa	58	51	67	74	3,886	3,774	933	2,000	95	86	3,692	3,246
Kansas	16	17	51	71	816	1,207	294	688	94	81	767	978
Kentucky	3	3	60	60	180	180	23	54	128	148	230	266
Louisiana	37	38	106	115	3,922	4,370	784	656	83	70	3,255	3,059
Maine	9	8	23	19	207	152	21	9	106	70	219	106
Maryland	7	6	32	40	224	240	40	65	121	159	271	382
Michigan	90	85	96	70	8,640	5,950	4,320	3,273	101	77	8,726	4,582
Minnesota	150	145	77	73	11,550	10,585	1,617	2,011	90	74	10,395	7,833
Mississippi	17	19	80	73	1,360	1,387	299	777	87	73	1,183	1,013
Missouri	22	24	74	77	1,628	1,848	326	517	92	78	1,498	1,441
Montana	117	107	60	120	7,020	12,840	1,825	4,237	88	74	6,178	9,502
Nebraska	65	61	75	67	4,875	4,087	1,755	2,738	92	77	4,485	3,147
Nevada	14	14	61	61	854	854	68	171	105	114	897	974
New Jersey	5	8	45	49	225	392	119	161	82	104	185	408
New Mexico	15	15	77	60	1,155	900	219	396	91	87	1,051	783
New York	68	72	80	60	5,440	4,320	2,557	2,246	89	85	4,842	3,672
North Carolina	12	8	44	58	528	464	53	139	104	119	549	552
North Dakota	230	245	86	100	19,780	24,500	4,945	7,350	90	74	17,802	18,130
Ohio	24	22	70	80	1,680	1,760	840	827	96	85	1,613	1,496
Oklahoma	4	4	59	58	236	232	54	97	109	137	257	318
Oregon	55	47	59	53	3,245	2,491	1,071	1,445	93	79	3,018	1,968
Pennsylvania	23	22	46	48	1,058	1,056	370	528	102	100	1,079	1,056
South Dakota	240	240	97	65	23,280	15,600	6,751	8,736	90	74	20,952	11,544
Tennessee	5	6	64	62	320	372	90	126	154	147	493	547
Texas	82	94	83	106	6,806	9,964	1,361	3,188	85	75	5,785	7,473
Utah	34	32	46	52	1,564	1,664	328	699	85	75	1,329	1,248
Vermont	4	5	83	63	332	315	93	249	101	83	335	261
Virginia	7	8	50	53	350	424	119	157	148	145	518	615
Washington	57	54	58	52	3,306	2,808	1,025	1,348	90	76	2,975	2,134
West Virginia	10	8	59	70	590	560	207	280	159	111	938	622
Wisconsin	69	79	78	60	5,382	4,740	2,422	2,797	90	90	4,844	4,266
Wyoming	40	38	73	62	2,920	2,356	526	660	90	75	2,628	1,767

Other States^3/	15	14	121	83	996	1,162	132	205	279	145	1,243	1,685

United States^4/	2,564	2,579	77.3	74.6	198,197	192,393	46,967	69,059	88.8	75.2	175,999	144,680
^1/ 1996 data revised. ^2/ Does not include stocks under loan. ^3/ CT, DE, MA, NH, RI , and SC not published separately to avoid disclosing data for individual operations. ^4/ U.S. price weighted by survey expanded sales.