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Honey Production Drops In Minn., Wis. In 2011

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(credit: Jupiter Images)

(credit: Jupiter Images)

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MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Honeybees in Wisconsin and Minnesota have had an off-year.

Wisconsin produced 3.6 million pounds of honey in 2011. That’s down 12 percent from the 4.1 million pounds it produced the previous year.

And Minnesota produced 6.4 million pounds last year, a decrease of 25 percent.

However, the results mirror a national trend. U.S. production fell 16 percent to 148 million pounds last year. One reason is that the number of honey-producing bee colonies across the nation has fallen.

That’s raised the average U.S. honey price to $1.73 per pound, up 11 cents.

Minnesota remains sixth in the nation in honey production. Wisconsin is still ninth.

North Dakota is easily the nation’s leader, with 32.7 million pounds last year. California and South Dakota round out the top three.

(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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  • Death

    Now this is a story. They do not why this is happening, but also they don’t tell you that if the honey bees do die off, life as you all know it will end.

  • Kevin

    I watched a report last month. Honey Bees are dying off all over the Nation. They claim its new pesticides that are being used on corn crops. And indeed if there are no Bees…..there is no pollenation…..game over……

  • keel

    Nicotinamide pesticides are used extensively on corn and other crops in the US. These are long-lasting…up to 3 years. Recent studies in the UK have found that pollen treated with these substances cause bees’ brains to become confused. Tests have shown that bees that fed on these products had up to 85% fewer queens to carry on the population next year. Bees also seem to lose their way home. Many European countries have now banned the use of nicotinamides after seeing severe bee losses. Bees pollinate most of our food crops. Bad news for mankind if we lose our bees.

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