West Virginia – Honey production in 2020 from producers with five or more colonies totaled 276,000 pounds, up 24 percent from 222,000 pounds in 2019. There were 6,000 producing colonies in 2020, unchanged from 2019. Yield per colony averaged 46 pounds, up 24 percent from the yield per colony of 37 pounds in 2019. Honey stocks on Dec. 15, 2020, were reported at 58,000 pounds, up 23 percent from 47,000 pounds in 2019.
Prices for the 2020 crop averaged $3.89 per pound, down 9 percent from the price of $4.26 per pound in 2019. Value of production totaled $1,074,000, up $128,000, or 14 percent, from $946,000 in 2019.
United States – 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 Dec. 15, 2020, down 3 percent from a year earlier. Stocks held by producers exclude those held under the commodity loan program.
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.
The average prices paid in 2020 for honey bee queens, packages, and nucs were $18, $84, and $105 respectively. Pollination income for 2020 was $254 million, down 18 percent from 2019. Other income from honey bees in 2020 was $55.8 million, down 28 percent from 2019.
