Charleston, West Virginia – Honey production in 2021 from producers with five or more colonies totaled 258,000 pounds, down 7 percent from 276,000 pounds in 2020. There were 6,000 producing colonies in 2021, unchanged from 2020. Yield per colony averaged 43 pounds, down 7 percent from the yield per colony of 46 pounds in 2020. Honey stocks on December 15, 2021, were reported at 136,000 pounds, up 134 percent from 58,000 pounds in 2020.
Prices for the 2021 crop averaged $4.80 per pound, up 26 percent from the price of $3.81 per pound in 2020. Value of production totaled $1,238,000, up $186,000, or 18 percent, from $1,052,000 in 2020.
United States – Honey production in 2021 totaled 126 million pounds, down 14 percent from 2020. There were 2.70 million colonies producing honey in 2021, down slightly from 2020. Yield per colony averaged 46.9 pounds, down 14 percent from the 54.5 pounds in 2020. 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 23.5 million pounds on December 15, 2021, down 41 percent from a year earlier. Stocks held by producers exclude those held under the commodity loan program.
Honey prices increased 21 percent during 2021 to $2.54 per pound, compared to $2.10 per pound in 2020. 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 2020 crop reflect honey sold in 2020 and 2021. Some 2020 crop honey was sold in 2021, which caused some revisions to the 2020 crop prices.
The average prices paid in 2021 for honey bee queens, packages, and nucs were $20, $91, and $125 respectively. Pollination income for 2021 was $269 million, up 6 percent from 2020. Other income from honey bees in 2021 was $102 million, up 82 percent from 2020.
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