NASS Highlights September 2019 • No. 2019-6

Statistical Summary

Honey production up Honey Bees 2 percent in 2018

Top States: Number of USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service has collected data on honey Colonies bee colonies and U.S. honey production for decades as part of the Census of (December 31, 2017) Agriculture and in annual surveys.

California 1,143,254 Florida 241,176 Honey Bee Colonies Texas 210,229 In 2017, the United States had 2.88 million honey bee colonies, down Idaho 130,988 12 percent from the record high 3.28 million colonies in 2012, but down Georgia 119,609 less than 1 percent from 2007. Fig. 1 shows number of colonies since 1969; North Dakota 97,105 similar data are available going back to 1900. Fig. 2 shows that colony losses and gains occur seasonally. The greatest losses occur in the fall and winter quarters that start in October and January. The largest number (cont’d on p. 2) About the Program Fig. 1. U.S. Honey Bee Colonies, various years, 1969 – 2017 (million) The NASS Bee and Honey Program has long provided honey bee colony 3.28 2.84 2.90 2.88 and honey production data. After 2.75 2.63 2015, the program was expanded to 2.52 2.52 2.35 track details about colony production 1.71 and health. State and national data 1.42 include:

• In the Census of Agriculture, every five years: number of colonies 1969 1974 1978 1982 1987 1992 1997 2002 2007 2012 2017 and operations, honey production and sales Source: USDA NASS, Census of Agriculture (various years, 1969-2017). • Annual data since 1987: honey- producing colonies; yield, Fig. 2. U.S. Honey Bee Colonies: Total, Lost, and Renovated, 2015 – 2019 (quarterly) production, stocks; price by color and marketing channel; value of 3.13 3.18 production 3.03 2.99 2.96 2.82 2.85 2.87 2.80 2.85 2.87 • Quarterly data: total, lost, and 2.62 2.64 2.69 2.64 2.67 2.67 renovated colonies; colony stressors; colony collapse disorder symptoms

500,000 For more information, go to: 100,000 www.nass.usda.gov/Surveys/Guide_ Jan Apr Jul Oct Jan Apr Jul Oct Jan Apr Jul Oct Jan Apr Jul Oct Jan to_NASS_Surveys/Bee_and_Honey. 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 To access the data online, go to: Total on rst day of qtr (million) Lost during qtr Renovated during qtr https://quickstats.nass.usda.gov. Source: USDA NASS, Honey Bee Colonies Report (various years).

United States Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service www.nass.usda.gov (cont’d from p. 1) of colony renovations occur in the spring quarter starting Honey sales in 2017 were $320 million, up 21 percent in April, making total colony numbers largest in the from 2012, according to the Census of Agriculture. quarters that start in July and October. For example, Fig. 2 shows significant losses in the last quarter of 2017 Fig. 4. U.S. Honey Prices, 1987 – 2018 (cents per pound) and first quarter of 2018; after 740,000 colonies were renovated in the second quarter, there were 2.96 million 250 colonies in the third quarter of 2018. 200 150 In 2018, varroa mites were the largest stressor in every 100 quarter. Colonies are renovated when they are requeened 50 or they receive new honey bees, generally through a nucleus hive (nuc) or a package of honey bees. 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017

The data are for operations with five or more colonies. On Source: USDA NASS, Honey Report (various years). January 1, 2019, the number of colonies was 2.67 million, up 1 percent from January 1, 2018. Cost of Pollination

By surveying crop producers, NASS has been able to Honey Production and Prices provide information on the fees they pay for the use of honey bees to pollinate their crops. The per acre fees for U.S. honey production in 2018 from producers with five states in regions 6 and 7 are higher than in other regions or more colonies totaled 152 million pounds, up (Table 1 and map). The total value of all pollination for 2 percent from 2017 (Fig. 3). The average honey yield per regions 6 and 7 in 2017 was $273 million, down 7 percent colony that year was 54.4 pounds, down 2 percent from from 2016. 55.5 pounds in 2017. Colonies that produced honey in more than one state were counted in each state where Table 1. U.S. Price per Acre for Pollination, by Region ($) the honey was produced. As a result, at the national level yield per colony may be understated, but total 2016 2017 production is not impacted. Only colonies from which Region 1 66.0 62.4 Region 2 48.4 55.7 honey was harvested are included. Region 3 49.3 55.5 Region 4 40.0 36.1 Region 5 59.9 65.2 Fig. 3. U.S. Honey Production, 1987 – 2018 (million pounds) Regions 6 and 7 246.8 239.0 240 Source: USDA NASS, Cost of Pollination Report (December 21, 2017). 220 200 Map of U.S. Regions for Cost of Pollination Data 180 160 140

Region 1 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 Region 2 Source: USDA NASS, Honey Report (various years). Region 3 Region 4 Between 2017 and 2018, honey prices in the United Region 5 Regions 6 & 7 States declined from 220.0 cents per pound (the highest ever) to 216.6 cents (Fig. 4). Prices at the national and state level reflect the shares of honey sold through cooperative, private, and retail channels. Prices for each honey color classification are derived by weighting the quantities sold for each marketing channel.

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