South Dakota ranked second in the nation for honey production in 2023, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.
South Dakota producers with five or more colonies produced 18.4 million pounds, up 156% from 2022. There were 212,000 honey producing colonies in South Dakota during 2023, up 15% from 2022. Average yield was 87 pounds per colony, up 48 pounds from 2022. Producer stocks were 12.5 million pounds on December 15, 2023, up from 2.81 million pounds a year earlier.
Prices for the 2023 crop averaged $2.02 per pound, down from $2.57 per pound in 2022. Prices were based on retail sales by producers and sales to private processors and cooperatives. Total value of honey produced in 2023 was $37.3 million, up 101% from 2022.
For the 20th consecutive year, North Dakota produced the most honey of any state in the nation. USDA NASS says North Dakota producers with five or more colonies produced 38.3 million pounds of honey in 2023, up 23% from 2022.
There were 511,000 honey producing colonies in North Dakota during 2023, down 2% from 2022. Average yield was 75 pounds per colony, up 15 pounds from 2022. Producer stocks were 9.20 million pounds on December 15, 2023, up from 4.68 million pounds a year earlier. Prices for the 2023 crop averaged $1.77 per pound, down from $2.60 per pound in 2022. Prices were based on retail sales by producers and sales to private processors and cooperatives. Total value of honey produced in 2023 was $67.8 million, down 16% from 2022.
Access the National publication for this release at https://usda.library.cornell.edu/concern/publications/hd76s004z.
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