How to Read the USDA Honey Report — Production, Colonies, Yield, Prices and Pollination Income
USDA NASS Honey 2025 (released March 13, 2026), U.S. farms ($1,000+ sales) with 5+ colonies: production 116 million pounds (-14% from 2024), 2.41 million colonies, price $3.05 per pound (+27%).
Key figures (Honey, March 13, 2026 report for 2025)
As of 1 November 2026, 00:44 KST; most recently published report: Honey, released March 13, 2026, by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), with 2025 honey production, colonies, yield, stocks, prices and beekeeping income for the United States and states. The March 13, 2026 release is shown in the report and the publication listing; the NASS release-day page also lists that date. No next release date was displayed on the publication page when checked, and the sources used give no time of day. Primary source: https://esmis.nal.usda.gov/sites/default/release-files/795818/hony0326.txt[1][2][3]
| Indicator (United States) | Previous (2024, as printed in the March 2026 report) | Current (2025) | Change vs previous | Change vs year ago: same as previous for an annual series | Evidence type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honey production (1,000 pounds) | 134,393 | 115,716 | down 14% (published); -13.9% (calculated) | same comparison | levels and published changes: USDA NASS primary statistical record; calculated %: this page's calculation |
| Honey producing colonies (1,000) | 2,597 | 2,412 | down 7% (published); -7.1% (calculated) | same comparison | levels and published changes: USDA NASS primary statistical record; calculated %: this page's calculation |
| Yield per colony (pounds) | 51.7 | 48.0 | down 7% (published); -7.2% (calculated) | same comparison | levels and published changes: USDA NASS primary statistical record; calculated %: this page's calculation |
| Producer stocks, December 15 (1,000 pounds) | 40,807 | 34,840 | down 15% (published); -14.6% (calculated) | same comparison | levels and published changes: USDA NASS primary statistical record; calculated %: this page's calculation |
| Average price, all honey (dollars per pound) | 2.41 (2024 crop, revised) | 3.05 | up 27% (published); +26.6% (calculated) | same comparison | levels and published changes: USDA NASS primary statistical record; calculated %: this page's calculation |
| Value of production (1,000 dollars) | 323,887 | 352,934 | +9.0% (calculated) | same comparison | levels: USDA NASS primary statistical record; change: this page's calculation |
Comparison basis: levels are as published; 2024 values are those printed in the March 2026 report, and NASS notes that 2024 crop prices were revised. Published changes are whole percentages; this page's calculated changes are rounded to one decimal. Because the series is annual, the previous and year-ago columns are the same comparison. The report, publication page and release-day page are all from USDA and count as one source.[1]
In three lines
1. The annual NASS report covers honey from operations with at least 5 colonies that meet the farm definition: colonies, yield, production, producer stocks, prices, and beekeeping income and costs.
2. U.S. honey production in 2025 was 116 million pounds, down 14% from 2024, from 2.41 million colonies.
3. The average price rose 27% to $3.05 per pound.[1]
What the report says (in NASS's words)
"United States honey production in 2025 totaled 116 million pounds, down 14 percent from 2024." "There were 2.41 million colonies producing honey in 2025, down 7 percent from 2024." "Yield per colony averaged 48.0 pounds, down 7 percent from 2024." "Producer honey stocks were 34.8 million pounds on December 15, 2025, down 15 percent from a year earlier." "United States honey prices increased 27 percent during 2025 to $3.05 per pound, compared to $2.41 per pound in 2024." "Pollination income for 2025 was $225 million, down 1 percent from 2024."[1]
Who is counted. "Data for honey producing operations are collected from a stratified sample of all known operations with at least 5 honey bee colonies that also meet USDA's definition of a farm." "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."[1]
What prices and stocks cover. "United States and State level prices reflect the portions of honey sold through cooperatives, private, and retail channels." "Some 2024 crop honey was sold in 2025, which caused some revisions to the 2024 crop prices." "Stocks held by producers exclude those held under the commodity loan program."[1]
Reading in pairs
Production vs value. Production fell 13.9% while the average price rose 26.6% (this page's calculation), and the value of production rose from $323,887 thousand to $352,934 thousand (+9.0%). The report notes that the U.S. value of production will not equal the sum of the states.[1]
Yield per colony vs total. Because colonies that produced in more than one state are counted in each state, NASS says U.S. yield per colony may be understated while total production is not affected; the colony count is the maximum number from which honey was harvested.[1]
Level error vs change. "This means that chances are 1 out of 3 that the final estimate will not be above or below the current estimate of 2.41 million colonies by more than 0.4 percent." (as printed by NASS) "Chances are 9 out of 10 that the difference will not exceed 0.8 percent." The report's wording says 1 out of 3 for the root mean square error statement; the measure describes past differences between first and final estimates of colonies (0.4%) and production (0.5%), not whether the 14% production decline is significant.[1]
Costs vs income. Among operations covered by the report (the income and expenditure table covers all their colonies, whether or not honey was harvested), varroa control and treatment spending rose from $16,634 thousand to $22,231 thousand (+33.6%, this page's calculation), while pollination income was $224,726 thousand, down 1% as published. The report gives these figures without explaining the changes.[1]
Verified facts
Each fact is labelled with its evidence typeEach fact in this section carries its evidence type — either cross-checked against independent sources, or confirmed from a single authoritative record.
U.S. honey production in 2025 totaled 116 million pounds, down 14 percent from 2024.[1] 1 source · authoritative record
There were 2.41 million honey producing colonies in the U.S. in 2025, down 7 percent from 2024.[1] 1 source · authoritative record
The average U.S. honey price was $3.05 per pound in 2025, up 27 percent from $2.41 in 2024.[1] 1 source · authoritative record
U.S. producer honey stocks were 34.8 million pounds on December 15, 2025, down 15 percent from a year earlier.[1] 1 source · authoritative record
U.S. pollination income for 2025 was $225 million, down 1 percent from 2024.[1] 1 source · authoritative record
Statements and readings
Not counted as facts — each item shows what kind of statement it isFrom here on: statements not counted as facts — single-source reports, the issuing body’s own statements, and this page’s own readings, each labeled.
The value of U.S. honey production rose 9.0% in 2025, to $352,934 thousand, as a 26.6% price rise outweighed a 13.9% fall in production.[1] This page’s own calculation or reading · This page's calculation from the March 13 report
Among operations covered by the report, varroa control and treatment expenditures rose 33.6% in 2025.[1] This page’s own calculation or reading · This page's calculation from the March 13 report
Timeline
What this page could not establish
These are questions this page tried to answer and could not. The gaps are left open rather than filled with a guess.- Why did honey production fall 14% in 2025?
- Is the 1 out of 3 wording in the reliability statement intended?
- Model
- claude-opus-5
- Time
- 11/01/2026, 00:47
- Body characters
- 5,803
- Sources
- 3 sources adopted
- Model
- ChatGPT (checked sources on the web)
- Time
- 11/01/2026, 00:56
- Verdict
- Revision required
Show revision history (3)
| 11/01/2026, 09:00 | First authored (claude-opus-5) | Created |
| 11/01/2026 | First version. Read in full the USDA NASS Honey report of March 13, 2026, including the 2024 and 2025 state tables, price by color class, income and expenditures, queen and package prices, apiary workers, methodology and reliability table, plus the publication page and the NASS Reports by Release Day page; quotations are complete sentences matched against the source text. | Updated |
| 11/01/2026 | Revised after review: the varroa expenditure claim and the costs paragraph are limited to operations covered by the report; the farm definition is spelled out in the FAQ and summary; the release date sentence names the report, publication listing and release-day page; the 1 out of 3 quotation is marked as printed by NASS. | Updated |
Frequently asked
How much honey did the United States produce in 2025?
116 million pounds (115,716 thousand), down 14% from 2024, according to the NASS report of March 13, 2026.[1]
What was the average U.S. honey price in 2025?
$3.05 per pound, up 27% from $2.41 in 2024; prices combine co-op, private and retail sales, and 2024 crop prices were revised.[1]
Which state produced the most honey in 2025?
North Dakota, with 30,820 thousand pounds from 460 thousand colonies, among the states shown in the 2025 table.[1]
Why might U.S. honey yield per colony for 2025 be understated?
Colonies that produced honey in more than one state were counted in each state, so the 2.41 million U.S. colony total can count some colonies more than once; total production is not affected, NASS says.[1]
Which operations are included in the 2025 U.S. Honey report?
A stratified sample of known operations with at least 5 honey bee colonies that also meet the USDA farm definition: $1,000 or more of agricultural products produced and sold, or normally would have been sold, during the year.[1]
Could the 2025 U.S. honey estimates be revised?
Yes: the 2025 estimates are subject to revision when the 2026 estimates are made, and price revisions can follow additional sales reported the following year.[1]