Ohio honey production sees significant increase
The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported a substantial rise in Ohio’s honey production in 2023, up by 4 percent from the previous year, reaching 1.30 million pounds.
The uptick is part of a national trend that saw honey production climb to 139 million pounds, the National Agriculture Statistics Service reported March 18.
Ohio’s increase in honey output comes from the state’s 20,000 honey-producing colonies, which, despite a drop in yield per colony, managed to boost overall production numbers. The average price per pound soared to $5.23, marking a $1.71 increase from 2022, leading to a significant rise in the value of production.
The value of production in the Buckeye State showed a jump of 54 percent from the previous year, totaling $6.80 million. However, stocks of honey showed a more modest increase of 18 percent, with 546 thousand pounds held by producers.
On a national level, while the number of colonies decreased slightly, the total production surged by 11 percent from the previous year. However, prices took a downturn, decreasing by 16 percent to $2.52 per pound, indicating a shift in the market dynamics.
The USDA noted that these figures reflect honey sold through various channels.
These include cooperatives, private sales, and retail, and advised that the total U.S. production volume might be underreported since some honey was not counted if produced outside the states where it was sold.
Ohio’s agriculture officials are optimistic about the continued growth and resilience of the state’s honey production amidst fluctuating market conditions.