EAST LANSING, Mich. — Michigan honey production for 2020 totaled 4.47 million pounds, down 5 percent from 2019, according to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service Great Lakes Region Office. This estimate included honey from producers with 5 or more colonies. Nationally, Michigan ranked eighth in honey production in 2020. Yields from Michigan’s 95,000 honey producing colonies averaged 47 pounds in 2020, down 3 from the previous year.
The Michigan honey price averaged $2.70 per pound, up 14 cents per pound from last year. Value of production totaled $12.1 million, slightly above 2019. Honey stocks totaled 1.38 million pounds, up 2 percent from 2019.
Nationally, honey production in 2020 totaled 148 million pounds, down 6 percent from 2019. There were 2.71 million colonies producing honey in 2020, down 4 percent from 2019. Yield per colony averaged 54.5 pounds, down 2 percent from the 55.8 pounds in 2019.
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 39.7 million pounds on December 15, 2020, down 3 percent from a year earlier. Stocks held by producers exclude those held under the commodity loan program.
United States honey prices increased 2 percent during 2020 to $2.03 per pound, compared to $1.99 per pound in 2019. 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 2019 crop reflect honey sold in 2019 and 2020. Some 2019 crop honey was sold in 2020, which caused some revisions to the 2019 crop prices.
— USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service
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