248 



AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL 



July 



Crop Report and Market Conditions 



For our July number we asked the Following questions 

 with regard to conditions : 



1. Condition of honey plants compared to last year? 



2. How is the honey-flow? 



3. Honey movements and prices. What is being of- 

 f, red 1>\ the buyers for honey? 



4. What do you expect to realize for your honey? 



HONEY PLANT CONDITIONS 



Conditions are extremely spotted this year with regard 

 to honej plants. In some localities the conditions are 

 favorable, while in others the reverse is true. All in all, 

 it seems that in the whole eastern halt of the country 

 the plant prospects will hardly be up to last year. Re- 

 ports by States follow: 



Massachusetts reports 100% as good as last year; Con- 

 necticut is fair, with New York sending in conflicting re- 

 ports, the average of which would hardly warrant expect- 

 ing as good a stand of honey plants as last year. 



The South is about normal, with Kentucky showing a 

 decided improvement over 1917, as does Alabama and 

 Mississippi. 



Pennsylvania only shows a fair prospect, while Ohio 

 seems to he about l.o'; as good as 1917. Michigan is 

 about normal, while prospects in Wisconsin are very 

 poor. 



Illinois has much more clover than last year, and Iowa 

 very much less. In fact, the only parts of Iowa wdiere 

 much honey will be harvested are where there is bass- 

 wood and sweet clover. Missouri again has very poor 

 prospects; Nebraska claims 507c while Kansas is about 

 normal, as is South Dakota. Minnesota's honey plants 

 are only 50$ as abundant as in 1917. 



Texas reports very much better conditions than last 

 year. It is to be hoped so, as conditions last year over a 

 majority of the State were about as bad aj could be. 



In the whole of the West conditions are at least as 

 good as in 1917, with the exception of Idaho, which had 

 such a splendid crop last year that it doubtless will not 

 be completely duplicated in 1918. In California plant 

 conditions range from 60 to 100% of 1917. 



THE HONEY FLOW 



The Xew England States expect a very good flow. 

 New York claims she will have 75%. of 1917. 



In the South there should be as much honey produced 

 as in 1917. even though Georgia claims less. Alabama 

 and some of the other sweet clover regions, should help 

 bring up the average. 



Pennsylvania expects only a fair crop, while Ohio's 

 hopes are still high. Wisconsin will have a partial fail- 

 ure, with Michigan producing probably 60 to Sir, 

 what she did in 1917. One large producer in Minn, ota 



i pei i s a Failui e on : nl oi drought. < Ither repoi I 



would indicate half a crop. 



Indiana and Illinois may have some honey, while Iowa 

 and Missouri will approach a crop failure, unless thfl 

 i remely fa\ oi able ti ivi aids I. 

 tion Hi.' latter half of the summei 



There is little or no flow in Texas now. but pro 

 . , .. . . i oi latei 'I 



It is yet a little , aily i 01 the West, as theii 

 ii gin in earnest till July. New \l 



ready reports honey coming in fairly well. The whole 

 West should average slightly better than in 1917, and 

 with at least as many bees to gather the crop. 



The orange honey flow in California has been very 

 satisfactory, with that from sage not so good. The total 

 crop cannot excel that of last year very much. 



HONEY PRICES 



Some buyers are still offering as low as MYz cents for 

 honey on contract. The bulk of offers are in the neigh- 

 borhood of 15, 16 and 17 cents. Several cars of orange 

 have been bought of producers at 21 cents, while some 

 of the producers are holding their orange crop for 25 

 cents. One commission firm on the coast offered a car 

 of orange a few days ago for 21J/2 cents f. o. b. coast. 



One or two beekeepers have sold their crop at 17 

 cents, while one car of Imperial Valley honey was sold 

 recently at 17jj cents f. o. b. shipping point. 



With very few exceptions, all old honey is cleaned up, 

 and at prices ranging at 20 cents or better. 



The demand for honey is exceedingly good, in fact 

 better even than it was at this period last year. Foreign 

 buyers are appearing in the field, some making arrange- 

 ments through their home consulates to get ocean trans- 

 portation as soon as the crop is available 



The stringent regulations on sugar will no doubt help 

 the sale of honey at home, even at the higher price. 



HONEY PRICES EXPECTED 



There is the greatest contrast between conditions 

 among beekeepers this year and last. Last year it seemed 

 that the beekeepers were anxious to sell, and at the 

 prices offered by the buyers. This year very few forward 

 contracts have been made. The majority of producers 

 are willing to wait and take what the market will be at 

 the time they are ready to sell their crop. 



The bulk of suggestions as to price expected ranged 

 around 20 cents for extracted, wholesale, and $5 per case 

 for comb. Some state that they are going to hold for 25 

 cents wholesale in car lots. 



With present prospects not too flattering for a honey 

 flow total in excess of last year, and with the demand as 

 strong as it is already, it seems that a price of 20 cents 

 for white extracted, wdiolesale, should not be out of the 

 way. How much higher the price may go is hard to con- 

 jecture. 



Push your Home Market, 



even though prices 



are high. 



The time may come again 



when Home Markets 



will be useful. 



