320 



AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL 



August 



Crop Reports and Market Conditions 



IN a majority of communities, the bulk of the crop is 

 now either harvested or else on the hives, so that it is 

 possible to give a summary of the proportion of a 

 crop which we can count on for the 1917-18 markets. 



Reports from the New England States indicate that the 

 crop is about as large as last season, though a little later. 

 The honey, mostly white clover, is of good body and fla- 

 vor and should command best prices. 



New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania report the 

 crop as very short. Most localities indicate only about 

 20% of last year, while in a few the estimate is from 30 

 to 50% of what it was a year ago. 



In the Carolinas, the reverse is true, one county agent 

 reporting 275% of last year's crop. We must remember 

 that the crop there was a failure in 1916, so that the large 

 increase can be attributed partly to this and partly to the 

 pushing of beekeeping there by both the State and the 

 Government Departments. As nearly all Carolina honey 

 is consumed at home, the crop will have little efifect on 

 the general markets. 



Florida and Georgia have considerable more honey than 

 in 1916, probably 20% more, at least. In Alabama, Missis- 

 sippi, Louisiana and other Southern Stales, however, 

 there is only about 50% of normal and only fair prospects 

 for the balance of the season. 



Texas has probably the worst failure in its history. 

 Practically all the big honey-producing area reports little 

 or no honey. Many reports are that bees are starving, 

 while only a few report from 10 to 20% of a crop. The 

 one exception is Western Te.xas, where there seems to be 

 from 50 to 80% of a crop. 



Through the Middle West also, as a rule, white clover 

 was a failure. No one outside of Michigan and Wisconsin 

 reports anywhere near a full crop. Some of the average 

 figures are as follows : Ohio, 30% ; Illinois, Indiana and 

 Missouri, 10 to 25% ; Iowa, 20% ; Kansas and Nebraska, 

 20% ; Minnesota, 50%. 



Many Wisconsin reporters give an average about up to 

 last year. Many more give about 60% of 1916. 



Michigan has probably not fared quite as well as Wis- 

 consin, but may have better than half a crop. 



Colorado, which earlier promised to have very much 

 more honey than last year, now reports from many lo- 

 calities that the crop will be much shorter than last sea- 



son. Some few reporters expect 25% more than last year. 

 Taken as a whole, it is very doubtful if there will be more 

 honey than in 1916, the average being probably 90% of 

 iast year. 



One reporter from Montana says only 60% of last year, 

 but most others expect about 25% more honey than was 

 gotten, in 1916. Idaho, like Colorado, had good prospects 

 early, but indications are now that this State will do well 

 to get 60 to 75% of what they are used to. New Mexico 

 and Arizona are about up to normal. 



In California the crop has been about 60 to 75% of nor- 

 mal in the large honey-producing sections. Some have 

 reported less than this, and a very few, more. 



Taken the country over, it is very doubtful if there will 

 be half as much honey as was harvested last season, and 

 undoubtedly not more than 60%, while it may run as low 

 as 40% of 1916. 



Honey Offers and Prices 



Big honey buyers are being forced to offer higher prices 

 to get what honey they want. Blanket offers now tend 

 to the minimum of 10 cents for almost any kind of ex- 

 tracted honey, while one of the largest buyers is offering 



12 and 12}^ cents for white honey in Michigan. One large 

 producer in California reports the sale of some 24 tons at 



13 cents for the white and lO'A cents for amber f. o. b. 

 his shipping point. 



New York producers are being offered around 10 cents 

 for best white extracted, which is way below what they 

 can get if they seek the right markets. 



It is true that a large proportion of the honey for this 

 year has been contracted for ahead of time and at much 

 lower prices. It is also true that the general markets are . 

 much short of their usual supply. This is due to a com- 

 bination of causes: short crop, heavy buying of bottlers 

 for home trade, and heavy foreign purchases. 



One association in the west has been holding the crop 

 of its members for 13 cents f. o. b. shipping point. An- 

 other and larger one is asking IS cents for white ex- 

 tracted. Indications are that they will realize this. 



It is hard to determine just where the prices will go, but 

 with the short crop and the mad scramble among buyers 

 to get hold of the honey as fast as it comes from the 

 hives, honey prices should easih' reach a level of IS cents 

 for white extracted. 



The local beekeeper who wants to buy outside honey to 

 supply his regular trade will have to figure on putting 

 his prices so that he can afford to pay at least 15 cents 

 for his honey, and he may have to pay even more than 

 this before the winter is over. 



Comb honey, naturally, will be higher in price than at 

 any time in the last few years. Many sales have already 

 been reported at $4.00 a case, and the likelihood is that 

 this will be exceeded. 



HONEY AND BEESWAX 



New York. August 17. — As to comb honey, 

 nothing definite can be said at this date. From 

 reports we have been receiving, it appears tliat 

 a fair crop has been produced in York State, 

 but no prices have been established that we 

 know of, and therefore, cannot make any quo- 

 tations until the next issue. The same applies 

 to extracted honey, and no prices seem to be 

 established. Southern honey seems to be pret- 

 ty well cleaned up, and shipments now are 

 mostly in small lots, many grades selling at 

 from 10c to lie per pound. The second qual- 

 ity, suh as light amber, is selling at around 

 8c to 9c, while very dark honey of rank flavor 

 is not selling for more than 6c to 7c. 



Beeswax is declining rapidly, and at present 

 is not selling for more than 3Sc to 40c for 

 choice yellow stock; darker for less. 



HiLDRETH & SeGELKEN. 



■"Chicago, August 17. — Several small consign- 

 emnts of honey are appearing on the market. 



The price of white comb that grades from 

 No. 1 to fancy is 20c per lb. No ambers so far 



offered. Extracted white of good flavor and 

 body brings 14c per pound in the 60-lb. cans. 

 Barrels bring about Ic per lb. less. 



Beeswax is ranging from 35c to 3Sc per lb. 

 R. A. Burnett & Co. 



Chicago. August 16. — In regard to the 

 honey market, it is just opening up. We had 

 about 100 cases of small lots, just in, which 

 sold from 18 to 20c per pound, and the market 

 is quotable at these prices. In extract honey 

 the market is from 14 to 14 J/2 c. Beeswax 

 from 35 to 37 c for the best grades. We look 

 for high prices to prevail on honey the entire 

 season. We sold about S carloads last year 

 and expect to handle 10 cars this year. 



Coyne BrothersI 



San Antonio, August 15. — Very little honey 

 is in the Texas markets. The only carload 

 offerings this year were from the alfalfa bell 

 in the extreme western portion of the State. 

 Prices in local lots have ranged (wholesale) 

 from 10 to 12c for extracted. Very little or 

 no bulk comb has been offered. Cotton surplus 

 will not appear until September and prospects 

 are not very flattering for more than 60% of 

 a normal crop. 



Beeswax prices are 30c and 32c trade basis, 

 with very little offered and a feeling of stiff- 

 ness in anticipation of higher prices. 



Southwestern Bee Company. 



Kansas City, August 15 — The honey mar- 

 ket is improving. 24-section comb honey is 

 selling at from $4.25 to $4.50, according to the 

 quality. 



There is very little extracted on the market, 

 and trade is holding for 15c per pound for 

 clear and 14c for amber. 



There is a good demand for beeswax at 40c 

 per pound. 



C. C. Clemons Produce Co. 



Denver, August 17. — We are at present sell- 

 ing new honey to retailers at the following 

 prices: No. 1 white comb honeyi per case of 

 24 sections, $4.50; No. 2, at $4.00. 



Extracted white, according to quantity, 16 to 

 18c. 



We are buying beeswax at all times and are 

 at present paying 34c cash and 36c in trade 

 for clean yellow wax delivered here. 



The Colo. Honey Producers Ass'n. 

 F. Rauchfuss, Mgr. 



