1920 



AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL 



215 



Crop and Market Report 



Compiled by M. G. Dadaol 



NET LOSS AND CONDITIONS 



It is remarkable to note throughout the whole country 

 the heavy loss of bees during the past year. This, of 

 course, is owing to the extremely prolonged cold winter 

 and prolonged spring cold. The winter loses have been 

 augmented by a very large spring loss through weaken- 

 ing queens and through starvation. 



Throughout the whole eastern half of the country 

 north of the Ohio River and east of the Mississippi, 

 losses seem to be very heavy. In the New England States 

 they will run nearly SO per cent, in Pennsylvania and 

 New Jersey and New York the loss will be from 20 to 

 40 per cent and throughout the rest of the northeast, 

 probably from 5 to 15 per cent, depending upon condi- 

 tion of bees in the fall and upon method of wintering. 

 Of course, the beekeepers who protected their bees in 

 the best manner will have the smallest loss. 



Throughout the southeast the losses are small, ranging 

 from 4 to 10 per cent, while Texas reports a loss of from 

 5 to 15 per cent, with an average of not over 10 per cent. 

 The north half of the Rocky Mountain territory reports 

 loss of from 10 to 35 per cent, whereas southern Colo- 

 rado, Arizona and New Mexico will not have much over 

 S per cent loss. Wyoming and Nevada and Utah also 

 have heavy loss, probably averaging 25 per cent, as will 

 Washington and Oregon. The loss in California is con- 

 siderably less, probably not averaging over 7 or 8 per 

 cent. 



PLANTS AND PROSPECTS 



Throughout the New England States where bees are in 

 poorest condition, prospects are best. New York and 

 Pennsylvania report very fair prospects. Ohio has only 

 a fair prospect, while Indiana and Illinois clover was 

 greatly injured by last year's drought. Michigan is in 

 almost the same shape, except that she has other honey 

 sources outside of clover. Wisconsin and Minnesota 

 seem to be much improved over last year. In Kansas 

 and Nebraska prospects are fair, although very late, and 

 South Dakota seems very good. Western Iowa will have 

 a very good crop, weather permitting, whereas eastern 

 Iowa, like Illinois, was burned out too late last year to 

 permit of a good clover crop. 



The bees in the South are already harvesting honey 

 and expectations are for an average crop there. Texas, 

 fortunately, reports much above the average, and some 

 reports are that there will be the largest crop for a long 

 time. Mesquite flow is on and prospects for both 

 mesquite and horsemint seem very good, indeed. 



In California some report normal crops this year while 

 others say there will not be over 50 per cent of normal. 

 It is very probable however, that weather conditions per- 

 mitting, southern California will have at least as good a 

 crop as last year, while northern California may not 

 equal last year's percentage. 



HONEY— SALE 



There is very little honey left on hand to compete with 

 the new crop. In fact, throughout practically the whole 

 country the honey crop has left the hands of the pro- 

 ducer and is in the hands of the wholesaler. 



The whole northeast section reports no honey on hand, 

 except in the large centers and a few scattering lots on 

 hand in the southeast and in the Rocky Mountain re- 

 gions. The three large co-operative associations of the 

 VVest and Southwest have no honey left except what 

 little new crop is coming in to the Texas and California 

 exchanges. This is being sold readily. 



In the larger markets there is still a little honey on 

 hand, but in heavy demand owing to the sugar shortage. 

 One commission merchant in New York City reports 

 thirty carloads of Idaho honey for sale at a price of 23c 

 f. o. b. New York. 



Besides these reports of new honey from Georgia and 

 Florida selling at from Uy^ to 14c for No. 2, with 17c for 

 No. 1 honey. This they say is the highest prices they 

 have gotten in the last twelve months. West Indian and 

 Cuban honey is coming in to the New York market at a 

 price ranging from 12 to 16c, according to quality. 



We should not lose sight of the sugar markets in 

 basing any ideas as to what the honey price will be for 

 the coming season. Sugar futures have been rising 

 practically every day during the last three or four weeks 

 and the wholesale price of sugar is now quoted at from 

 20 to 28c per pound Sugar is selling locally at 32c per 

 pound from retail stores. 



Reliable sources report that there is not much danger 

 of the sugar price dropping to amount to anything for 

 the next six or eight months. In fact sugar futures 

 would indicate that the price will hold good up until 

 December or January. It is doubtful, therefore, whether 

 the price of honey will be any lower than it is at present, 

 which would indicate a good demand and a rising market. 



Orange honey is selling in the California markets at 

 about 20c per pound. Some are holding for 22c. 



The new Texas honey is selling at about 22c for ex- 

 tracted and 24c for bulk comb, for a limited quantity 

 which has just been placed upon the market. 



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