Michigan honey production for 2022 totaled 3.36 million pounds, down 34 percent from 2021. This estimate included honey from producers with 5 or more colonies. Nationally, Michigan ranked ninth in honey production in 2022. Yields from Michigan’s 82,000 honey producing colonies averaged 41 pounds in 2022, down 10 pounds per colony from the previous year.
The Michigan honey price averaged $3.04 per pound, up 4 cents per pound from last year. Value of production totaled $10.2 million, down 33 percent from 2021. Honey stocks were 706 thousand pounds, down 64 percent from 2021.
Nationally, honey production in 2022 totaled 125 million pounds, down 1 percent from 2021. There were 2.67 million colonies producing honey in 2022, down 1 percent from 2021. Yield per colony averaged 47.0 pounds, unchanged from 2021. 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 23.3 million pounds on December 15, 2022, down 1 percent from a year earlier. Stocks held by producers exclude those held under the commodity loan program. United States honey prices increased 12 percent during 2022 to $2.96 per pound, compared to $2.65 per pound in 2021. 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 2021 crop reflect honey sold in 2021 and 2022. Some 2021 crop honey was sold in 2022, which caused some revisions to the 2021 crop prices.
Categories: Michigan, Crops, General