Honey production up in Indiana, down in Michigan and Ohio

WASHINGTON -- Michigan honey production for 2015 totaled 5.22 million pounds, down 9 percent from 2014. This estimate included honey from producers with 5 or more colonies. Nationally, Michigan ranked eighth in honey production in 2015. Michigan was also ranked eighth in 2014. Yields from Michigan’s 90,000 honey producing colonies averaged 58 pounds in 2015, compared with 63 pounds the previous year.

The Michigan honey price averaged $2.43 per pound, down 6 cents per pound from last year. Value of production totaled $12.7 million, down 11 percent from 2014. Honey stocks were 1.98 million pounds, up 8 percent from 2014.

Indiana honey production for 2015 totaled 318 thousand pounds, up 3 percent from 2014. This estimate included honey from producers with 5 or more colonies. Yields from Indiana’s 6,000 honey producing colonies averaged 53 pounds in 2015, compared with 62 pounds the previous year. Indiana honey price averaged $3.38 per pound, up 19 cents per pound from last year. Value of production totaled $1.08 million, up 9 percent from 2014. Honey stocks were 165 thousand pounds, up 43 percent from 2014.

Ohio honey production for 2015 totaled 850 thousand pounds, down 7 percent from 2014. This estimate included honey from producers with 5 or more colonies. Yields from Ohio’s 17,000 honey producing colonies averaged 50 pounds in 2015, compared with 61 pounds the previous year. Ohio honey price averaged $4.08 per pound, up 50 cents per pound from last year. Value of production totaled $3.47 million, up 6 percent from 2014. Honey stocks were 357 thousand pounds, up 39 percent from 2014.

Nationally, honey production in 2015 from producers with five or more colonies totaled 157 million pounds, down 12 percent from 2014. There were 2.66 million colonies from which honey was harvested in 2015, down 3 percent from 2014. Yield of honey harvested per colony averaged 58.9 pounds, down 10 percent from the 65.1 pounds in 2014. 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 42.2 million pounds on December 15, 2015, up 2 percent from a year earlier. Stocks held by producers exclude those held under the commodity loan program.

Honey prices decreased during 2015 to 209.0 cents per pound, down 4 percent from a record high of 217.3 cents per pound in 2014. 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 2014 crop reflect honey sold in 2014 and 2015. Some 2014 honey was sold in 2015, which caused some revisions to the 2014 honey prices.