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Ag stats: 2020 honey production report for the USDA mountain states region

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ARIZONA 

Arizona honey production in 2020 from producers with five or more colonies totaled 900,000 pounds, down 15 percent from 2019, according to the Mountain Regional Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA. There were 25,000 colonies producing honey in 2020, up 9 percent from 2019. Yield per colony averaged 36 pounds, down 22 percent from the 46 pounds in 2019. Producer honey stocks were 360,000 pounds on December 15, 2020, up 79 percent from a year earlier. Arizona honey prices increased during 2020 to $2.18 per pound, up 7 percent from $2.04 per pound in 2019. 

COLORADO 

Colorado honey production in 2020 from producers with five or more colonies totaled 1.23 million pounds, down 16 percent from 2019, according to the Mountain Regional Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA. There were 30,000 colonies producing honey in 2020, down 6 percent from 2019. Yield per colony averaged 41 pounds, down 11 percent from the 46 pounds in 2019. Producer honey stocks were 455,000 pounds on December 15, 2020, down 9 percent from a year earlier. Colorado honey prices decreased during 2020 to $2.09 per pound, down 11 percent from $2.34 per pound in 2019. 

MONTANA 

Montana honey production in 2020 from producers with five or more colonies totaled 8.91 million pounds, down 40 percent from 2019, according to the Mountain Regional Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA. There were 110,000 colonies producing honey in 2020, down 36 percent from 2019. Yield per colony averaged 81 pounds, down 6 percent from the 86 pounds in 2019. Producer honey stocks were 3.21 million pounds on December 15, 2020, down 45 percent from a year earlier. Montana honey prices increased during 2020 to $1.57 per pound, up 5 percent from $1.49 per pound in 2019. 

NEW MEXICO 

New Mexico bee and honey estimates were not published separately to avoid disclosing data for individual operations. 

UTAH 

Utah honey production in 2020 from producers with five or more colonies totaled 952,000 pounds, up 49 percent from 2019, according to the Mountain Regional Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA. There were 28,000 colonies producing honey in 2020, up 27 percent from 2019. Yield per colony averaged 34 pounds, up 17 percent from the 29 pounds in 2019. Producer honey stocks were 171,000 pounds on December 15, 2020, up 92 percent from a year earlier. Utah honey prices increased during 2020 to $2.07 per pound, up 5 percent from $1.97 per pound in 2019. 

WYOMING 

Wyoming honey production in 2020 from producers with five or more colonies totaled 1.52 million pounds, down 30 percent from 2019, according to the Mountain Regional Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA. There were 38,000 colonies producing honey in 2020, down 3 percent from 2019. Yield per colony averaged 40 pounds, down 29 percent from the 56 pounds in 2019. Producer honey stocks were 608,000 pounds on December 15, 2020, up 99 percent from a year earlier. Wyoming honey prices increased during 2020 to $1.66 per pound, up 16 percent from $1.43 per pound in 2019. 

UNITED STATES 

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 December 15, 2020, down 3 percent from a year earlier. Stocks held by producers exclude those held under the commodity loan program. 

United States 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.