By SHELLY STRAUTZ-SPRINGBORN
Michigan Correspondent

LANSING, Mich. — Michigan’s honey production in 2008 topped 2007 by 12 percent, according to a recent report from the Michigan Field Office of the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).
Producers throughout the state with five or more colonies were included in the data, which recorded a total of 5.18 million pounds of honey produced in 2008.

David Anthony, a beekeeper from Swartz Creek and president of the Michigan Beekeepers Assoc., said this year’s success was due primarily to favorable weather conditions.

“Basically, Mother Nature is to thank for the increased production,” Anthony said. “You have to have rains and the right temperatures to produce the nectars that the bees collect out of the plants.”
However, Anthony said production was inconsistent throughout the state. Michigan‘s Upper Peninsula and the southern part of the Lower Peninsula were a little dry, which isn’t the best for production, “but the center of the state was really good. If you get too much rain, not enough rain or too cool of weather, the bees won’t go out and work it.”

Michigan’s honey price averaged $1.43 per pound, up 24 cents per pound from one year ago, and the value of production totaled $7.41 million, up 35 percent from 2007. Honey stocks were recorded at 2.02 million pounds, down 14 percent from 2007. Prices reflect the portions of honey sold through retail, cooperatives and private channels.

“Honey is a commodity and supply and demand affect prices,” Anthony said. “Some other states had problems with drought so they had less honey production. The fuel prices drove up honey prices, too.

“I consider production a seven-year cycle,” Anthony said. “You have good and bad years, but it averages out.”

Nationally, honey production in 2008 from producers with five or more colonies totaled 161 million pounds, up 8 percent from 2007, according to NASS. A total of 2.3 million colonies produced honey in 2007, which was a decrease of 6 percent from 2007. Yield per colony averaged 69.9 pounds, up 15 percent from 60.7 pounds in 2007.

Colonies that produced honey in more than one state were counted in each state where the honey was produced, according to NASS.
Thus, yields 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 50.4 million pounds in December 2008, down 4 percent from one year ago. Stocks held by producers exclude stocks held under the commodity loan program.

Honey prices for 2008 were up from the previous year for all color classes throughout the nation. Honey prices averaged $1.41 per pound in 2008, up 31 percent from $1.07 in 2007. Prices are based on retail sales by producers and sales to private processors and cooperatives.

Prices for the 2007 crop reflect honey sold in 2007 and 2008. Some 2007 crop honey was sold in 2008, which caused some revisions to the 2007 crop prices.