Top States: Number of 

Colonies

(December 31, 2017)

California 1,143,254

Florida 241,176

Texas 210,229

Idaho 130,988

Georgia 119,609

North Dakota 97,105

About the Program

The NASS Bee and Honey Program 

has long provided honey bee colony 

and honey production data. After 

2015, the program was expanded to 

track details about colony production 

and health. State and national data 

include:

• In the Census of Agriculture, every

five years: number of colonies 

and operations, honey production 

and sales

• Annual data since 1987: honeyproducing colonies; yield, 

production, stocks; price by color 

and marketing channel; value of 

production

• Quarterly data: total, lost, and 

renovated colonies; colony 

stressors; colony collapse disorder 

symptoms

For more information, go to: 

www.nass.usda.gov/Surveys/Guide_

to_NASS_Surveys/Bee_and_Honey.

To access the data online, go to: 

https://quickstats.nass.usda.gov.

NASS Highlights September 2019 • No. 2019-6

Honey production up 

2 percent in 2018

USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service has collected data on honey 

bee colonies and U.S. honey production for decades as part of the Census of 

Agriculture and in annual surveys.

Honey Bee Colonies

In 2017, the United States had 2.88 million honey bee colonies, down

12 percent from the record high 3.28 million colonies in 2012, but down 

less than 1 percent from 2007. Fig. 1 shows number of colonies since 1969; 

similar data are available going back to 1900. Fig. 2 shows that colony losses 

and gains occur seasonally. The greatest losses occur in the fall and winter 

quarters that start in October and January. The largest number (cont’d on p. 2) 

Fig. 1. U.S. Honey Bee Colonies, various years, 1969 – 2017 (million)

1.42

1969

1.71

1974

2.52

1978

2.75

1982

2.84

1987

2.63

1992

2.52

1997

2.35

2002

2.90

2007

3.28

2012

2.88

2017

Source: USDA NASS, Census of Agriculture (various years, 1969-2017).

Fig. 2. U.S. Honey Bee Colonies: Total, Lost, and Renovated, 2015 – 2019 (quarterly)

Total on rst day of qtr (million) Lost during qtr Renovated during qtr

2.82 

2.85 2.87 

3.13 

2015

2.64 

2.69 

2.67 

2.99 

2.85 

2017

2.62 

2.80 3.18 

3.03 

2016

2.64 

2.67 

2.96 

2.87 

2018 2019

Jan Apr Jul Oct Jan Apr Jul Oct Jan Apr Jul Oct Jan Apr Jul Oct Jan

Source: USDA NASS, Honey Bee Colonies Report (various years).

www.nass.usda.gov

United States Department of Agriculture

National Agricultural Statistics Service

Statistical Summary

Honey Bees 

500,000

100,000
of colony renovations occur in the spring quarter starting 

in April, making total colony numbers largest in the 

quarters that start in July and October. For example, 

Fig. 2 shows significant losses in the last quarter of 2017 

and first quarter of 2018; after 740,000 colonies were 

renovated in the second quarter, there were 2.96 million 

colonies in the third quarter of 2018. 

In 2018, varroa mites were the largest stressor in every 

quarter. Colonies are renovated when they are requeened 

or they receive new honey bees, generally through a 

nucleus hive (nuc) or a package of honey bees.

The data are for operations with five or more colonies. On 

January 1, 2019, the number of colonies was 2.67 million, 

up 1 percent from January 1, 2018.

Honey Production and Prices

U.S. honey production in 2018 from producers with five 

or more colonies totaled 152 million pounds, up

2 percent from 2017 (Fig. 3). The average honey yield per 

colony that year was 54.4 pounds, down 2 percent from 

55.5 pounds in 2017. Colonies that produced honey in 

more than one state were counted in each state where 

the honey was produced. As a result, at the national 

level yield per colony may be understated, but total 

production is not impacted. Only colonies from which 

honey was harvested are included.

Fig. 3. U.S. Honey Production, 1987 – 2018 (million pounds)

140

160

180

200

220

240

1987

1989199119931995

1997

19992001200320052007200920112013

20152017

Source: USDA NASS, Honey Report (various years).

Between 2017 and 2018, honey prices in the United 

States declined from 220.0 cents per pound (the highest 

ever) to 216.6 cents (Fig. 4). Prices at the national and 

state level reflect the shares of honey sold through 

cooperative, private, and retail channels. Prices for each 

honey color classification are derived by weighting the 

quantities sold for each marketing channel. 

Honey sales in 2017 were $320 million, up 21 percent 

from 2012, according to the Census of Agriculture.

Fig. 4. U.S. Honey Prices, 1987 – 2018 (cents per pound)

1987198919911993199519971999200120032005200720092011201320152017

50

100

150

200

250

Source: USDA NASS, Honey Report (various years).

Cost of Pollination

By surveying crop producers, NASS has been able to 

provide information on the fees they pay for the use of 

honey bees to pollinate their crops. The per acre fees for 

states in regions 6 and 7 are higher than in other regions 

(Table 1 and map). The total value of all pollination for 

regions 6 and 7 in 2017 was $273 million, down 7 percent 

from 2016.

Table 1. U.S. Price per Acre for Pollination, by Region ($)

2016 2017

Region 1 66.0 62.4

Region 2 48.4 55.7

Region 3 49.3 55.5

Region 4 40.0 36.1

Region 5 59.9 65.2

Regions 6 and 7 246.8 239.0

Source: USDA NASS, Cost of Pollination Report (December 21, 2017).

Map of U.S. Regions for Cost of Pollination Data 

Region 1

Region 2

Region 3

Region 4

Region 5

Regions 6 & 7

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. 

www.nass.usda.gov

(cont’d from p. 1)