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NASS
National Agricultural Statistics Service
Hawaii Field Office
Fact finders for agriculture

HAWAII DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
1428 S. KING STREET
HONOLULU, HI 96814-2512
(808) 973-9588
FAX: (808) 973-2909
Hawaii Honey
 Frequency: Annual
Released: March 20, 2006
2005 Hawaii Honey Production Higher

Hawaii honey production is estimated at 1,179,000 pounds, 54 percent more than 2004, according to the Hawaii Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service. Weather conditions were variable throughout the year with rainfall occurring in all months thus limiting prolonged dry periods or prolonged very wet conditions. The number of honey producing colonies totaled 9,000, up 1,000 from the previous year. Honey yield per colony averaged 131 pounds, up 36 percent from 2004. Producers received an average $1.34 per pound in 2005, down 16 percent from the 2004 record high. Farm value totaled $1.6 million, 29 percent higher than last year's value. In 2005, beeswax production amounted to 10,000 pounds, 9 percent lower than last year. The average price of beeswax was $1.82 per pound, unchanged from 2004. Beeswax value totaled $18,000, 10 percent lower than the previous year. The value of queen bee sales is not included in this release to avoid disclosure of individual operations.

United States Honey Production Down 5 Percent
Honey production in 2005 from producers with five or more colonies totaled 175 million pounds, down 5 percent from 2004. There were 2.41 million colonies producing honey in 2005, down 6 percent from 2004. Yield per colony averaged 72.5 pounds, up 1 percent from the 71.8 pounds in 2004. Colonies which produced honey in more than one State were counted in each State where the honey was produced, therefore yields per colony may be understated. Colonies were not included if honey was not harvested. Producer honey stocks were 62.4 million pounds on December 15, 2005, up 2 percent from a year earlier. Stocks held by producers exclude stocks held under the commodity loan program.

Honey Prices Down 15 Percent
Honey prices decreased during 2005 to 90.4 cents, down 15 percent from 106.9 cents in 2004. Prices are based on retail sales by producers and sales to private processors and cooperatives. State level honey prices reflect the portions of honey sold through retail, co-op and private channels. Honey prices for each color class are derived by weighing quantities sold for each marketing channel. Honey prices for 2005 were lower than the previous year for all color class totals.

Honey: Number of colonies, honey and beeswax production, price and value,
State of Hawaii, 1952-2005
Year Honey
producing
colonies		 Production Yield
per
colony		 Average price Value of production
Honey
(extracted)		 Beeswax Honey
(extracted)		 Beeswax Honey
(extracted)		 Beeswax
Thousands 1,000 pounds Pounds Cents per pound 1,000 dollars
1946 7.2 761 15 106 18.0 47 137 7
1947 8.7 758 15 87 15.0 44 114 7
1948 9.0 652 12 72 8.0 43 52 5
1949 8.5 738 12 87 7.5 38 55 5
1950 10 890 18 89 7.5 41 67 7
1951 11 968 13 88 8.5 52 82 7
1952 13 637 8 49 9.5 45 61 4
1953 10 70 7 7 10.4 40 7 3
1954 10 370 7 37 10.3 42 38 3
1955 8 296 8 37 11.2 46 33 4
1956 8 280 6 35 11.5 53 32 3
1957 8 432 9 54 10.8 59 47 5
1958 8 416 7 52 10.1 46 42 3
1959 7 329 6 47 11.3 41 37 2
1960 7 280 5 40 11.4 44 32 2
1961 7 301 5 43 14.7 42 44 2
1962 7 280 5 40 12.8 42 36 2
1963 7 308 5 44 12.6 42 39 2
1964 7 315 4 45 15.8 40 50 2
1965 6 366 9 61 14.6 45 53 4
1966 6 348 6 58 11.1 44 39 3
1967 6 246 4 41 11.0 63 27 3
1968 6 354 8 59 12.5 73 44 6
1969 5 375 7 75 14.3 68 54 5
1970 5 215 4 43 15.0 78 32 3
1971 4 276 6 69 21.7 65 60 4
1972 4 300 6 75 30.1 75 90 5
1973 3 132 5 44 44.1 90 58 5
1974 4 320 8 80 50.1 123 160 10
1975 6 426 16 71 51.4 110 219 18
1976 7 714 9 102 50.5 130 361 12
1977 7 679 11 97 45.4 126 308 14
1978 7 812 11 116 47.6 183 387 20
1979 7 910 15 130 47.2 180 430 27
1980 7 861 20 123 49.6 172 427 34
1981 7 875 16 125 53.3 186 466 30
1982 8 920 14 115 56.5 210 520 29
1983 9 1,305 21 145 58.1 230 758 48
1984 9 1,089 17 121 56.1 195 611 33
1985 9 1,188 18 132 62.9 190 747 34
1986 9 1,323 18 147 56.0 155 741 28
1987 9 1,710 19 190 44.0 145 752 28
1988 9 1,611 24 179 43.0 132 693 32
1989 9 1,215 18 135 45.0 124 547 22
1990 10 1,570 17 157 47.0 119 738 20
1991 10 1,310 22 131 57.0 116 747 26
1992 9 1,242 29 138 54.0 115 671 33
1993 9 1,593 18 177 52.0 222 828 40
1994 9 900 15 100 48.0 167 432 25
1995 8 1,032 16 129 56.0 106 578 17
1996 8 1,240 18 155 81.0 217 1,004 39
1997 9 1,314 17 146 86.0 224 1,130 38
1998 8 944 15 118 77.0 173 727 26
1999 8 640 15 80 80.0 173 512 26
2000 7 784 8 112 82.0 200 643 16
2001 8 696 6 87 87.0 233 606 14
2002 7 952 15 136 111.0 193 1,057 29
2003 7 798 11 114 145.0 182 1,157 20
2004 8 768 11 96 159.0 182 1,221 20
2005 9 1,179 10 131 134.0 182 1,580 18


Honey: Number of Colonies, Yield, Production, Stocks, Price, and Value
for Selected States and United States, 2005 1
State Honey
producing colonies		 Yield
per colony		 Production Stocks
Dec 15 2		 Average price
per pound 3		 Value
of production
Thousands Pounds 1,000 pounds Cents 1,000 dollars
AR 36 69 2,484 571 95 2,360
AZ 36 50 1,800 720 97 1,746
CA 400 75 30,000 9,300 84 25,200
CO 26 70 1,820 837 104 1,893
FL 160 86 13,760 2,477 87 11,971
GA 59 49 2,891 434 84 2,428
HI 9 131 1,179 283 134 1,580
IA 28 88 2,464 1,232 98 2,415
ID 95 37 3,515 1,793 80 2,812
LA 35 97 3,395 611 71 2,410
MI 65 68 4,420 2,519 99 4,376
MN 120 74 8,880 1,598 83 7,370
MS 16 80 1,280 346 66 845
MT 130 67 8,710 3,136 80 6,968
ND 370 91 33,670 8,418 81 27,273
NE 40 68 2,720 2,530 89 2,421
NY 60 73 4,380 2,321 122 5,344
OR 39 42 1,638 557 108 1,769
PA 28 56 1,568 800 105 1,646
SD 220 79 17,380 11,818 76 13,209
TX 84 71 5,964 954 85 5,069
WA 51 55 2,805 1,935 106 2,973
WI 64 83 5,312 2,922 114 6,056
WY 40 56 2,240 291 87 1,949
Oth Sts 4 5 199 52 10,368 4,003 152 15,712
U.S. 5 2,410 72.5 174,643 62,406 90.4 157,795
1 For producers with 5 or more colonies. Colonies which produced honey in more than one State were counted in each State.
2 Stocks held by producers.
3 Prices weighted by sales.
4 Includes all other States not published separately.
5 Total colonies multiplied by total yield may not exactly equal production.


United States Honey Imports Higher

U.S. honey imports totaled 105,500 metric tons in 2005, compared to 80,900 metric tons in 2004. The value of 2005 imports was down 10 percent from 2004 to $125.4 million. Imports from many countries increased from the previous year.

Subject description of general imports included are:
0409000025: Comb Honey and Honey Packaged for Retail Sales
0409000042: Natural Honey, Not Packed for Retail Sales, White
0409000044: Natural Honey, Not Packed for Retail Sales, Extra Light Amber
0409000062: Natural Honey, Not Packed for Retail Sales, Light Amber0409000064: Natural Honey, Not Packed for Retail Sales, Nesoi

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