Wisconsin honey production on decline, yield reaches 10-year low

National increase keeps experts from being worried

Amy Reid by Amy Reid

Rich Brooks/CNN Bees, wasps and hornets: 58 people per year

Monday is World Bee Day, and though honey production in the United States is going up, in Wisconsin the trend is the opposite.

Because of mites and viruses, and now poor weather, honey yields in Wisconsin are at a 10-year low.

“Wisconsin’s honey production in 2018 was 2.3 million pounds,” said Greg Bussler, an ag statistician for the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. “That was down 23 percent from 2017.”

While nationally, honey production is UP 2% (per @USDA), Wisconsin’s honey production is DOWN 2%. @widatcp said farmers are telling them wet weather in the spring followed by hot, dry temps in the summer are killing bees, making it difficult to keep w/years prior. pic.twitter.com/Dj2HQMz1LH

— Amy Reid (@amyreidreports) May 21, 2019

It’s affecting local honey producers, too.

Last year Mad Urban Bees in Madison had to shut down operations, blaming climate change.

“Weather was a big factor,” Bussler said. “Last year we had a cool, wet spring followed by a few hot weeks in June and July that were extremely dry, so that affected the production.”

He also said some bad weather in places producers keep their bees in the winter, including Florida, led to some of their bees dying.

Nationally, producers aren’t having the same problem. Honey was up 2 percent from 2017 to 2018.

That nationwide trend is what’s keeping experts in Wisconsin from being worried.

“Year-to-year fluctuation isn’t a cause for concern,” Bussler said. “I think you have to look at the historic trend nationally.”

He said there’s not much consumers can do to help Wisconsin buck this trend, but he said it could help for people to plant more flowers in their yard.

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