By Scout Nelson
According to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service – Honey report, honey production from producers with five or more colonies in Minnesota totaled 6.15 million pounds in 2023, marking an 18 percent increase from the previous year. The number of honey-producing colonies in the state also rose to 106,000, up by 4,000 from 2022.
The average yield per colony in Minnesota was 58 pounds, compared to 51 pounds per colony in 2022. This increase in production and colony count propelled Minnesota to rank 5th nationally in honey production, up from 7th place in 2022.
On December 15, 2023, producer honey stocks in Minnesota reached 861 thousand pounds, an 18 percent increase from 2022. However, despite the rise in production, the value of Minnesota's 2023 honey crop stood at $12.2 million, down 16 percent from the previous year. The average price per pound for all marketing channels in Minnesota also decreased to $1.99, down 80 cents from 2022.
United States Honey Production in 2023
In the United States, honey production totaled 139 million pounds in 2023, representing an 11 percent increase from 2022. The number of colonies producing honey decreased to 2.51 million, down 6 percent from the previous year. However, the yield per colony averaged 55.2 pounds, up 17 percent from 2022.
Producer honey stocks in the United States were 44.0 million pounds on December 15, 2023, marking a significant 90 percent increase from a year earlier. The average price per pound for honey in the United States decreased by 16 percent during 2023 to $2.52, compared to $3.01 per pound in 2022.
Overall, pollination income for 2023 reached $255 million, up 6 percent from 2022, while other income from honey bees totaled $57.7 million, up 5 percent from the previous year.
For more detailed information, the complete report is available on the USDA NASS website at www.nass.usda.gov/Publications.
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Categories: Minnesota, Business, General