Most areas are reporting colonies in fair to good condition going into winter. General inflation seems to have settled in at around 3%, but most consumers feel it is higher, especially when it comes to food. Yet most of our reporters still see strong demand for local honey at the retail level. Unfortunately, larger producers continue to suffer under the onslaught of foreign imports of questionable quality.
Northeast
After poor harvests in 2025, Pennsylvania beekeepers saw mostly strong colonies going into winter and are hopeful for the coming year. Retail demand is strong; cut comb in jars is popular in some markets.
Crops were better in New Hampshire. Demand appears strong for spring queens and nucs. One reporter noted with surprise that SNAP recipients were buying premium honey, though demand overall seemed to have slackened in the fall.
June was wet in New York, but the rest of the summer and fall were very dry, and colonies were light and in poor shape going into winter. Retail demand was good.
Drought also hurt production in New Jersey, due in part to heavy spring rains, and colonies needed heavy feeding going into winter.
Maryland’s colonies were in better condition, with adequate stores. Demand for local honey remains high.
Mideast
Tennessee honey production was pretty good this year, but some colonies were weak going into winter. Wholesale and retail demand seems down a bit.
Kentucky honey crops picked up after a slow start; linden was the best in several years. Stores looked good for winter.
Virginia hives were heavy in some areas due to beekeepers harvesting early to avoid spotted lantern fly honeydew. Overall the crop was fair to good, and demand was strong.
Southeast
Alabama bees looked fair to good going into winter. Crops were good, and demand is strong, as consumers only trust local honey these days.
Georgia crops were down overall, and mite pressure was high this year. Bees were in fair condition in November.
A South Carolina correspondent reports that a large packer is flooding a local retail chain with “South Carolina honey” at well below market prices. The state has been dry, and colonies are in fair condition.
Crops were down in north-central Florida, but a little better to the east. Import prices continue to threaten the livelihood of the state’s beekeepers.
Southwest
Rainfall in East Texas was front-loaded to spring, which was good for honey crops. But demand is outrunning the hobbyists, leading to more retail sales for larger producers. Colonies were mostly in good shape in November.
Louisiana bees looked fair to good heading into winter. Retail sales are great for local honey, but larger beekeepers have a hard time moving quantities at sustainable prices.
Colonies looked good with adequate stores in New Mexico. Varroa remains a constant challenge.
Nevada honey production was about average, and colony stores looked good. Local honey is in continuous demand.
East Central
Parts of Indiana saw snow in early November, but bees had flight weather later in the month. Migratory beekeepers were moving south, and most colonies looked good.
Ohio honey crops were above normal, though drought curtailed the fall flow. Demand for local honey continues to outstrip supply.
Wisconsin honey crops were down significantly from last year, due to too much rain in some areas, drought in others, and smoke from Canada forest fires affecting flight conditions. The state held its first veterinary beekeeping classes in September, with the help of Michigan State instructors, to help write veterinary feed directives (VFDs) for beekeepers.
Illinois crops were up from last year, but still lower than average, as things have been drier than usual for about five years. With higher prices on all inputs, and now tariffs, it’s getting harder for producers to keep up.
Michigan crops were up this year, and colonies looked good. More consumers are buying comb honey, and prefering glass packaging for liquid honey. One reporter sells honey “subscriptions,” whereby consumers pay a monthly or quarterly fee for regular deliveries.
West Central
The honey crop was about average in central Missouri, and a bit higher in the east. Spring and summer rains were plentiful overall, but spotty, but late summer and fall were very dry. Demand for local honey is as strong as ever, and seems to pick up toward the holiday season.
Yields in Kansas were up a bit over last year. Fall colonies were in better shape in central and western KS than in the north and east. Retail demand seems to have slackened as of late.
Intermountain
Colorado saw good honey crops. Colonies were mostly heavy going into fall, but mild weather made for more active bees and some will need feeding.
Wyoming and Utah saw much better honey crops in 2025, due to a hot, dry summer and lower mite pressure. Retail sales are good, but packers are still sitting on imported honey from last year.
West
Most of Washington saw good honey production in 2025. Most colonies looked good going into winter, with adequate stores. Retail sales appear to have dropped off slightly in the north, as overall food inflation may be impacting non-staple products. Demand is better in the south; one key to success is establishing relationships and making oneself available to answer product questions.
Oregon’s honey crop was down a bit from last year. Colonies were in fair condition going into winter, with adequate stores. Retail demand is good, but prices have not yet caught up with inflation. Beekeepers in general are concerned about cash flow and not wanting to sit on honey, but medium-sized buyers seem to have cut back on orders.
After a few years of drought, California seems to have settled into a wetter weather pattern, which is good for generating larger and more varied nectar flows, but can make things interesting for beekeepers getting in and out of the almond orchards. The question now is, have commercial pollinators bounced back sufficiently from last year’s losses to fully meet the almond demand?
