1921 



AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL 



511 



Crop and Market Report 



Compiled b^ M. G. Dadant 



CROP AND MARKET REPORT 



Belated reports coming in from beekeepers would indi- 

 cate that the total honey crop will be considerably in ex- 

 cess of our report for last month. This is mostly due to 

 the favorable weather in the fall months, which resulted 

 in a much better fall crop than was expected. This larger 

 fall crop also came in regions which are not generally to 

 be considered as fall crop regions. Michigan and Wis- 

 consin have had very good fall crops, whereas, the Missis- 

 sippi and Illinois River bottoms, which generally have an 

 abundant fall flow, fell very much under the average for 

 the past five years, and even below the 1920 crop. 



A report just received from the Bureau of Crop Esti- 

 mates at Washington, gives the per colony average of 

 honey for the United States for 1921 as 44 pounds, com- 

 pared to 59 pounds in 1920, and a five-year average of 43 

 pounds. Some of the short crop States are California, 

 with an average of 23 pounds as against 93 pounds in 

 1920; Nevada, with 25 pounds instead of 83; Arizona, 

 with 42 pounds instead of 92; Wisconsin with 42 pounds 

 instead of 85, and North Carolina with 10 pounds in- 

 stead of 55. 



Those States producing a considerably larger crop than 

 in 1920 are Maine, Georgia, Florida, Ohio, Michigan and 

 Mississippi 



A peculiar condition existed in Utah. Castle Valley 

 produced its normal crop of approximately seven cars, 

 while the Uintah Basin, generally a large producer, 

 shipped very little honey. 



Latest reports from Texas would indicate that the final 

 1921 crop for the whole State will be slightly in excess of 

 1920. Earlier reports of a short crop for California are 

 verified. 



THE HONEY MARKET 



Very probably the excessive demand during October 

 for carload lots of honey has not held up proportionately 

 during November, though still much in excess of the de- 

 mand for the same time last year. There is still a very 

 active demand, however, for good gi-ades of white honey. 

 The consumer is buying. Low sugar prices, while inter- 

 fering with sales of amber honey, seem to have had no 

 eff^ect on the white honey trade. In fact, all reports, from 

 wholesalers, retailers and beekeepers alike, would indi- 

 cate that the consuming public seem to have been brought 

 to a realization of the value and desirability of white 

 honey as a good product. Whereas, the cheaper syrups 

 are a drug on the market, honey is moving well. 



This applies, naturally, to those markets which demand 

 the white honey. In the mai-kets where amber honey is 

 sold, the competition of the cheaper imported amber 

 honeys and of sugar is still being felt, though indications 

 are for a gi-adual improvement. 



Many reports from beekeepers, both large and small, 

 are to the eff"ect that the demand is excellent; that they 

 will be unable to supply their regular demand from their 

 own stocks, but will have to buy elsewhere or let the 

 customers go. 



This is the opportunity to keep up the supply, encour- 

 age the demand and clean up the supplies of honey in 

 good shape for the 1922 season. Many have argued, for- 

 merly, that in the honey business it was not over supply, 

 nor lack of demand, but lack of proper distribution, and 

 we are inclined to agree. All too true it is, that every 

 demand should be supplied, either by the handling of out- 

 side honey by the beekeeper, or referring such an unfilled 

 demand to parties who can take care of it. 



HONEY PRICES 



There has not been much change in the retail prices of 

 honey, and what there has been has been upwards. 

 Most of the now small class who do not know market 

 prices have disposed of their crop at unreasonably low 

 prices, and the tendency is towards a stabilization. The 

 jobbing market for amber honey has not seen much 

 change, but white honey has slightly stiffened, though 

 white sweet clover extracted is still offered at about 8 V2 

 cents to 9 cents f. o. b. shipping point, which would make 

 a minimum New York price of around 9 V2 cents for 

 white. 



The Southeast, which has complained all along of the 

 sloviTiess of the market and the great damage done native 

 honey by the imported product, is in a little better shape, 

 and the demand is becoming some better. 



All in all, we would imagine that the honey situation is 

 far from hopeless and that the large demand and large 

 shipments should, before spring, lead to a favorable con- 

 dition in the honey supply and honey price. 



Let us hope, however, that such favorable signs as 

 there may be will not tend to make for a slackening ef- 

 fort in selling, or tend to boost prices on the part of the 

 handler beyond what is reasonable and just. 



RETAIL PRICES 



The above prices refer to car lots. Freights, commis- 

 sions, packing and handling bring the pi'ice up to double 

 these figures before the honey reaches the consumer. In 

 most localities white honey is retailing at from 20 to 30 

 cents per pound in 5 and 10-pound pails. In glass fur- 

 ther costs are added. The beekeeper who retails his 

 own crop should not overlook the fact that the packing 

 and selling of his product is a different proposition from 

 pi-oducing, and should profit by the selling as well as the 

 production of his crop. 



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