NASS Highlights September 2019 • No.

2019-6

Statistical Summary
Honey production up Honey Bees
2 percent in 2018

Top States: Number of USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service has collected data on honey
Colonies bee colonies and U.S. honey production for decades as part of the Census of
(December 31, 2017) Agriculture and in annual surveys.

California
Florida
1,143,254
241,176
Honey Bee Colonies
Texas 210,229
In 2017, the United States had 2.88 million honey bee colonies, down
Idaho 130,988 12 percent from the record high 3.28 million colonies in 2012, but down
Georgia 119,609 less than 1 percent from 2007. Fig. 1 shows number of colonies since 1969;
North Dakota 97,105 similar data are available going back to 1900. Fig. 2 shows that colony losses
and gains occur seasonally. The greatest losses occur in the fall and winter
quarters that start in October and January. The largest number (cont’d on p. 2)
About the Program
Fig. 1. U.S. Honey Bee Colonies, various years, 1969 – 2017 (million)
The NASS Bee and Honey Program
has long provided honey bee colony 3.28
and honey production data. After 2.75 2.84 2.90 2.88
2.52 2.63 2.52
2015, the program was expanded to 2.35
track details about colony production 1.71
and health. State and national data 1.42
include:

• In the Census of Agriculture, every

five years: number of colonies 1969 1974 1978 1982 1987 1992 1997 2002 2007 2012 2017
and operations, honey production
and sales Source: USDA NASS, Census of Agriculture (various years, 1969-2017).
• Annual data since 1987: honey-
producing colonies; yield,
Fig. 2. U.S. Honey Bee Colonies: Total, Lost, and Renovated, 2015 – 2019 (quarterly)
production, stocks; price by color
and marketing channel; value of
8
3

3.1

03

99
3.1

production
96
85

87
87

85
82

80

3.

2.
69

2.
67
64

64

67
62

2.
2.

2.

2.
2.

2.

• Quarterly data: total, lost, and

2.

2.

2.
2.

2.
2.

renovated colonies; colony

stressors; colony collapse disorder
symptoms
500,000
For more information, go to:
www.nass.usda.gov/Surveys/Guide_ 100,000
Jan Apr Jul Oct Jan Apr Jul Oct Jan Apr Jul Oct Jan Apr Jul Oct Jan
to_NASS_Surveys/Bee_and_Honey.
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
To access the data online, go to: Total on first day of qtr (million) Lost during qtr Renovated during qtr
https://quickstats.nass.usda.gov.
Source: USDA NASS, Honey Bee Colonies Report (various years).

United States Department of Agriculture

National Agricultural Statistics Service www.nass.usda.gov
(cont’d from p. 1)
of colony renovations occur in the spring quarter starting Honey sales in 2017 were $320 million, up 21 percent
in April, making total colony numbers largest in the from 2012, according to the Census of Agriculture.
quarters that start in July and October. For example,
Fig. 2 shows significant losses in the last quarter of 2017 Fig. 4. U.S. Honey Prices, 1987 – 2018 (cents per pound)
and first quarter of 2018; after 740,000 colonies were
renovated in the second quarter, there were 2.96 million 250
colonies in the third quarter of 2018. 200
150
In 2018, varroa mites were the largest stressor in every 100
quarter. Colonies are renovated when they are requeened 50
or they receive new honey bees, generally through a
nucleus hive (nuc) or a package of honey bees.

09
05
03

07
01
99
89

95
93

97
87

91

15
13

17
11
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
The data are for operations with five or more colonies. On Source: USDA NASS, Honey Report (various years).
January 1, 2019, the number of colonies was 2.67 million,
up 1 percent from January 1, 2018. Cost of Pollination
By surveying crop producers, NASS has been able to
Honey Production and Prices provide information on the fees they pay for the use of
honey bees to pollinate their crops. The per acre fees for
U.S. honey production in 2018 from producers with five states in regions 6 and 7 are higher than in other regions
or more colonies totaled 152 million pounds, up (Table 1 and map). The total value of all pollination for
2 percent from 2017 (Fig. 3). The average honey yield per regions 6 and 7 in 2017 was $273 million, down 7 percent
colony that year was 54.4 pounds, down 2 percent from from 2016.
55.5 pounds in 2017. Colonies that produced honey in
more than one state were counted in each state where
Table 1. U.S. Price per Acre for Pollination, by Region ($)
the honey was produced. As a result, at the national
level yield per colony may be understated, but total 2016 2017
Region 1 66.0 62.4
production is not impacted. Only colonies from which
Region 2 48.4 55.7
honey was harvested are included. Region 3 49.3 55.5
Region 4 40.0 36.1
Fig. 3. U.S. Honey Production, 1987 – 2018 (million pounds) Region 5 59.9 65.2
Regions 6 and 7 246.8 239.0
240 Source: USDA NASS, Cost of Pollination Report (December 21, 2017).
220
200 Map of U.S. Regions for Cost of Pollination Data
180
160
140

Region 1
09
05
03

07
01
99
89

95
93

97
87

91

15
13

17
11
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
19
19
19
19
19
19
19

Region 2

Source: USDA NASS, Honey Report (various years). Region 3

Region 4

Between 2017 and 2018, honey prices in the United Region 5

Regions 6 & 7
States declined from 220.0 cents per pound (the highest
ever) to 216.6 cents (Fig. 4). Prices at the national and
state level reflect the shares of honey sold through
cooperative, private, and retail channels. Prices for each
honey color classification are derived by weighting the
quantities sold for each marketing channel.

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