1920 



AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL 



359 



Crop and Market Report 



Compiled by M. G. Dadaot 



For our October report we asked reporters to answer 

 the following questions: 1. What has the crop been? 2. 

 Condition of bees and honey plants? What is being 

 offered for honey? 4. What are you asking, wholesale 

 and retail? 



THE CROP 



In the New England States the crop has been fairly 

 good, Connecticut quoting it fine, Rhode Island, Vermont 

 and Massachusetts seem to have had a shorter crop as 

 well as Maine. 



In New York the crop seems to have varied greatly, 

 since some localities report a normal crop. Foulbrood has 

 cut the output in some sections and is having its effect on 

 the total of the crop. 



In Ohio, Indiana and Pennsylvania the crop has been 

 fair, and Illinois has a better crop than last year, al- 

 though the fall flow fell short considerably of what was 

 expected. There will be about half as much fall honey as 

 last season. In Iowa there will probably be an average 

 of 100 pounds per colony the State over, the western 

 side of the State showing the best crop. Kansas and 

 Nebraska have had generally fair crops of honey and 

 Missouri will average probably 75 per cent. 



In Michigan there will probably be 75 per cent as much 

 honey as last year, while Wisconsin is blessed with a good 

 crop, although not as many bees as usual to care for it. 

 The average of reports from Wisconsin will give over 100 

 pounds per colony. Minnesota reports good crops also. 



In the Southeastern States, although there has been a 

 published report that the crop was extra good, our re- 

 porters state the opposite. In the Appalachicola district 

 there will not be over one-third of a crop, and this will 

 probably extend over Mississippi, Alabama and well up 

 into Tennessee and Kentucky. In fact, in all of our re- 

 ports we find no mention of anything like a normal crop, 

 except in the Carolinas and possibly in Louisiana, which 

 we understand in some sections has had an unusually 

 large crop. 



Te.xas early honey was in abundance, but the later crop 

 does not seem to be yielding as well as last year. 



In the inter-mountain States we find that Montana will 

 hardly have half of last year, Idaho a little more than half 

 and Colorado also hardly half of what was harvested in 

 1919. 



In Washington and Oregon the crop has been fairly 

 good, although nothing phenomenal. Arizona and New 

 Mexico have also had good crops, but hardly up to last 

 year, while California reports are conflicting. Some of 

 them state there will be not over halt a crop, while oth- 

 ers have had an unusually large crop. From the amount 

 of honey on the market now from California, indications 

 are that the crop was nearly up to last year. Utah and 

 Wyoming seem to have had very good crops. 



BEES AND PLANTS 



Throughout the whole of the North, Central and East-.; 

 ern States conditions seem to be improving for honey'l 

 plants for next year. Some parts of the country were 

 needing rain badly, but. late rains haye reinedied this. '■" 



Few sections are affected by drought to the extent of 

 having any influence on the 1921 crop. 



PRICES OFFERED 



There seems to be a little shyness on the part of buyers!' 

 of large amounts of honey towards quoting a price except, 

 for immediate delivery. Eastern beekeepers have sold' 

 comb honey at $7 per case, with extracted at about 1^' 

 to 20c. The usual offer, is on a basis of 18c f. o, b. easteiip.! 

 points for nice white honey. The amount of New Zeair '; 

 land honey imported so far seems to have been small, Mt 

 that it should not have had a large effect upon the mark^' 



WHAT IS ASKED FOR HONEY ; .>■;, 



In a retail way the country over, on a basis of 10-pourtct;: 

 cans, the price is from 26c to 30c, and our reports woul^-i 

 indicate that beekeepers are selling honey veryi freely fo^j; 

 this time of year. In our own locality honey spems to UC:- 

 moving better than usual at this season. All beekeepers . 

 east of the Missouri; river, seem inclined to ihold their ■ 

 honey at a good price, say 20c for extracted horiey, whole- 

 sale, and many offers for white clover at 18c Ihave beep . 

 declined. In the Southeast the beekeepers generally ac^ 

 holding for a good price, also, owing to the fact that the|k;| 

 crop has been small and they feel they must realize. 'J;, 



Colorado and Montana and Idaho, having a ihort crop,' 

 will undoubtedly hold their honey at a good price, saiy.'.; 

 18c to 20c for white alfalfa, with a proportionately good- 

 price for comb honey, '. ■}i- 



The Texas crop is practically disposed of, jthe Tex?t^ 

 Association having handled this in an excellent manner' 

 for its members. i : .-'. 



There seems-fo be, a disposition on the paft of beer 

 keepers in the extreme West to get rid or their'honey and 

 to cut prices to do so; We know of many offers of car- 

 loads of amber alfalfa honey at 14c to 15c per pound, and 

 one or two offers of extra fancy white sweet .clover and 

 alfalfa honey as- lovv as 15c per pound. We dan see no. 

 reason for this low price , even though the priqe of sugar 

 is dropping. The demand for honey is good generally, aU 

 though the large bottlers are not buying al- the high. 

 prices. ,- | ' 



In our estimation, whether honey prices wilJ go dowrt' 

 or not is to be determined largely from the attitude of the ' 

 beekeeper, whether he is to force the price dovVn in con^- 

 petition with his neighbor or make an effort to hold tH-^^,: 

 price to a reasonable basis. " ." 



Without a doubt, tlie buyer of honey will not seek 20c^ 

 honey when 14c and 15c honey, equal in gradie, is being.- 

 offered. We have several indications that the sugar maef'i 

 ket will drop more, and some reports are being citculatei'; 

 that the price of sugar, wholesale, is to go to IQc before ^' 

 stops. This, however, is merely a conjecture. Nor is jt;, 

 necessary for the price of honey to follow that of sugi/-i 

 now that a good market has been created for the beekee^; 

 ers' product. 



A New Book, **Dadant's System of Beekeeping" 



PRICE $1.00 ,-,.,.^.,,5^^-,.^.. ,-. ,,. , 



