Nebraska Ag Connection - Nebraska Colonies, Honey Production Down in 2016

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Nebraska Colonies, Honey Production Down in 2016
Nebraska Ag Connection - 03/23/2017

Honey production in 2016 from Nebraska producers with five or more colonies totaled 2.21 million pounds, down 19 percent from 2015, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.

There were 48,000 honey producing colonies in Nebraska during 2016, down 16 percent from 2015. Average yield was 46 pounds per colony, down from 48 pounds per colony in 2015. Producer stocks were 640,000 pounds on December 15, 2016 down from 1.45 million pounds a year earlier.

Prices for the 2016 crop averaged 188 cents per pound, down from 204 cents in 2015. Prices were based on retail sales by producers and sales to private processors and cooperatives. Total value of honey produced in 2016 was 4.15 million dollars, down 26 percent from 2015.

United States honey production in 2016 from producers with five or more colonies totaled 162 million pounds, up 3 percent from 2015. There were 2.78 million colonies from which honey was harvested in 2016, up 4 percent from 2015. Yield of honey harvested per colony averaged 58.3 pounds, down 1 percent from the 58.9 pounds in 2015. 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 41.3 million pounds on December 15, 2016, down 2 percent from a year earlier. Stocks held by producers exclude those held under the commodity loan program.

United States honey production in 2016 from producers with less than five colonies totaled 766 thousand pounds, up 6 percent from 2015. There were 24 thousand colonies from which honey was harvested in 2016, up 4 percent from 2015. The average yield was 31.9 pounds per colony in 2016, up 2 percent from the previous year. This yield is 26.4 pounds less than what was harvested per colony on operations with five or more colonies.

United States honey prices decreased during 2016 to 207.5 cents per pound, down slightly from 208.3 cents per pound in 2015. 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 2015 crop reflect honey sold in 2015 and 2016. Some 2015 honey was sold in 2016, which caused some revisions to the 2015 honey prices. Price data was not collected for operations with less than five colonies.

For operations with five or more colonies, the average prices paid in 2016 for honey bee queens, packages, and nucs were $19, $89, and $117 respectively. The average prices paid in 2016 for operations with less than five colonies were $33 per queen, $109 per package, and $122 per nuc. Comparable data is not available for 2015. For operations with five more colonies, pollination income for 2016 was $338 million, down 1 percent from 2015. Other income from honey bees for operations with five or more colonies in 2016 was $149 million, down 10 percent from 2015.

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