1921 



AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL 



467 



Crop and Market Report 



Compiled hj M. G. Didaot 



NOVEMBER REPORT 



For our November report we asked the following ques- 

 tions of our reporters: 



1. What is your total crop and how does it compare to 

 last year? 



2. What have you been selling your honey for, whole- 

 sale and jobbing? 



3. Is the honey demand looking up any? 



4. How much of your crop is sold? 



THE TOTAL CROP 



We can do no better than give the average of figures 

 as given by reporters on the total crop. Maine reports 

 70 per cent of a normal crop, Vermont 50 per cent, Rhode 

 Island and Connecticut 50 per cent, Massachusetts 50 per 

 cent, New York 70 per cent, Pennsylvania 150 per cent, 

 Maryland, New Jersey and the Carolinas 10 per cent, 

 Georgia 75 per cent, Florida 50 per cent, Kentucky and 

 Tennessee 30 per cent, Mississippi and Alabama 50 per 

 cent, Louisiana 125 per cent, Texas 110 per cent, Ohio 

 110 per cent, Indiana 100 per cent, Michigan 125 per 

 cent, Wisconsin 75 per cent, Minnesota 80 per cent, Illi- 

 nois 80 per cent, Iowa 10 to 50 per cent, depending 

 whether on eastern or western side of the State ; Missouri 

 50 per cent, Kansas and Nebraska and South Dakota 50 

 per cent, Arizona and New Mexico 30 per cent, Colorado 

 100 per cent, Montana 125 per cent, Idaho 75 per cent 

 Utah 50 per cent, Nevada 80 per cent, Oregon and Wash- 

 ington 50 per cent, California 5 to 50 per cent. 



All in all, indications are that there will not be much 

 over 75 per cent as much honey as last season, even 

 though we take into consideration the larger number of 

 bees this year. 



One big factor also is that some of the largest honey- 

 producing areas have had a short crop, so that the total 

 amount of honey entering into shipment to the larger 

 markets will probably show a smaller percentage than 

 mentioned above. 



PRICES OF HONEY 



Two months ago the market was greatly depressed. 

 There was a large amount of foreign honey being offered 

 and this was having its effect on the whole honey situa- 

 tion. Since that time, there has been a decided change. 

 Cuban honey is beginning to seek the European markets 

 to such an extent that we see in '.he German bee papers 

 agitation against the cheap "American" honeys which are 

 damaging the sale of their home product. 



We know of one or two cars of white honey being sold 

 at a price ranging from 7 to 8V4 cents f. o. b. shipping 

 point, with considerable amber honey from the west be- 

 ing offered as low as 6 cents f. o. b. shipping point. Comb 

 honey is in excellent demand. Some has sold as low as 

 $4.15 to $4.75 per case, f. o. b. shipping point for No. 1. 

 These sales seem to have been made by the "scared" bee- 

 keeper, however, as there was no indication of such a low 

 price being necessary to move the honey. Mostly comb 

 is selling fiom $5.25 to $5.75 f. o. b. shipping point for 

 No. 1. 



Most of the prices turned in by producers would indi- 

 cate that they expect to get the equal of 8 1^^ to 9 cents 

 f. o. b. the western shipping point, which means a basis of 



about 10% to 11 cents for the easterner. These prices 

 we believe are not out of the way, and should represent 

 the minimum price in large lots, for white honey. Amber 

 is still meeting the competition of the earlier cheap honey 

 and will feel it probably for a little time yet. 



THE DEMAND 



It is remarkable how replies accord as to the demand 

 for honey. Whereas two months ago, all reporters were 

 discouraged with the vei-y slack demand and lack of in- 

 terest on the part of the buying public, now comes the as- 

 surance that the demand is improving fast. Many report 

 that the demand never was so good at this season of the 

 year. This is the case in our own locality, where honey is 

 being sold, evidently to replace the almost complete lack 

 of any kind of fruit. 



Demand seems to be slower to pick up in the larger 

 centers, due more likely to the slowness of the jobbers to 

 buy than to the reticence on the part of the public. We 

 look for increased activity here as the fall develops. Comb- 

 honey demand is good. There should be no trouble in dis- 

 posing of this year's production at good prices. 



PART OF CROP SOLD 



As in the previous inquiry, nearly all reporters are in 

 accord to the effect that at least one-half the honey has 

 been sold, this being especially true in the States of small 

 production, where the sales are made locally and do not 

 go through the larger distributing centers. In view of 

 the fact that some of the later honey is no more than 

 ready for the market now, this is a good indication. 

 Texas, which seemed to be overstocked a little earlier in 

 the season, is getting rid of her surplus fast and should 

 be able to handle the bulk of her crop without trouble. 



In cumber honeys, it seems that the cheapest offered now 

 are the Southern honeys, which are still very low, consid- 

 ering the otherwise stable condition of the market. 



SUMMARY 



All in all, the honey situation appears extremely favor- 

 able. 



Old stocks are now practically cleaned up and the new 

 offerings are in good demand. The drop made earlier in 

 honey seems to have been sufficient to create for it a de- 

 mand on the part of the public. In our own locality sor- 

 ghum is selling at $1.50 per 10-lb. can, while honey brings 

 $2.25. Easy to see which will be selected by the party 

 who has a taste for honey. 



We would urge several things on the honey producer 

 at this point. Supply your trade as long as it is possible 

 to do so, even though it means buying honey from out- 

 side, and even though your profits on the handling are 

 very moderate. 



Get a fair price for your product, a price which will be 

 in line with the price quoted by the larger packer, so that 

 he may step into your market and keep it supplied con- 

 tinually should you run out. 



Do not take advantage of the strong demand to raise 

 prices to the point where the demand will cease, for this 

 will mean a curtailing of consumption of honey, not only 

 now, but for years to come. It looks as though the honey- 

 eating public of war time was going to continue its use 

 if given a chance by the producer and handler. 



