Honey production from producers with five or more colonies in Wisconsin totaled 2.79 million pounds in 2023, according to the United States Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service Honey Report.
This was 4% lower than the 2.92 million pounds produced in 2022. The number of honey producing colonies in the state, at 62,000, was up 9,000 from 2022. This number does not include producers with fewer than five colonies or producers who did not harvest honey. Yield per colony in Wisconsin averaged 45 pounds, compared to 55 pounds per colony in 2022.
Wisconsin ranked 11th nationally in honey production, equal to 2022.
Colonies that 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.
On Dec. 15, 2023, producer honey stocks in Wisconsin, excluding stocks under government loan programs, were 1.004 million pounds, 23% higher than 2022. The state’’s 2023 honey crop was valued at $8.43 million, down 10% from the previous year’s $9.39 million.
The average price per pound for all marketing channels in Wisconsin was $3.02, down 20 cents from 2022.
United States honey production in 2023 totaled 139 million pounds, up 11% from 2022. There were 2.51 million colonies producing honey in 2023, down 6% from 2022. Yield per colony averaged 55.2 pounds, up 17% from 2022.
Producer honey stocks were 44.0 million pounds on Dec. 15, 2023, up 90% from a year earlier. Stocks held by producers exclude those held under the commodity loan program.
United States honey prices decreased 16% during 2023 to $2.52 per pound, compared to $3.01 per pound in 2022. 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 2022 crop reflect honey sold in 2022 and 2023. Some 2022 crop honey was sold in 2023, which caused some revisions to the 2022 crop prices.
The average prices paid in 2023 for honey bee queens, packages and nucs were $19, $91 and $120, respectively.
Pollination income for 2023 was $255 million, up 6% from 2022. Other income from honey bees in 2023 was $57.7 million, up 5% from 2022.
The complete report can be found at www.nass.usda.gov/publications.
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