Wisconsin's Honey Production Increases in 2020

Tuesday, March 23rd, 2021 -- 8:09 AM

(Wisconsin Ag Connection) Honey production from producers with five or more colonies in Wisconsin totaled 2.25 million pounds last year, a four percent increase from the 2019 harvest.

According to the Wisconsin Ag Connection, that's According to the USDA, which stated the number of honey producing colonies in the state fell from 46,000 colonies in 2019 to 45,000 colonies this past season.

This number does not include producers with fewer than five colonies or producers who did not harvest a crop.  Yield per colony in the Badger State averaged 50 pounds, up from 47 pounds per colony for the year.

Wisconsin moved to 15th place nationally in honey production, up from 16th place during the season prior.  As of mid-December, producer honey stocks in Wisconsin, excluding stocks under government loan programs, were 855 million pounds, a 24 percent increase from 2019.

The state's 2020 honey crop was valued at $7.34 million, up 13 percent from the previous year's $6.49 million.  The average price per pound for all marketing channels in Wisconsin was $3.26, up 26-cents for the year.

National honey production was 157 million pounds, down 12 percent from the previous year. The U.S. had 2.66 million honey producing colonies, which is three percent less than in 2019.

The average yield was 58.9 pounds per colony, a 10 percent decrease.  The U.S. average honey price per pound for all marketing channels was $2.03 in 2020, up slightly from the previous year.

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