UNITED STATES Honey crop estimates continue to look better than last season’s record poor crop. Many beekeepers in the Northeast and Mideast harvested considerably more honey than they had received in the last few seasons. Favorable weather and rainfall at the right times are credited for the better crops. Parts of the Southeast and Southwest were hampered by unfavorable spring conditions followed by hot, dry weather that hurt honey flows, although some beekeepers were still able to secure average or better honey crops.Honey crops were definitely better in the East Central and West Central areas, but excessive rainfall or at times dry weather hampered flows and caused a rather spotty crop. Rainy, cool weather also hurt honey crops for some beekeepers in the Intermountain and West areas, but overall crops were still considerably better than last year’s disappointing honey crop. Some beekeepers commented that the difference between receiving a good or poor crop was often determined by how strong overwintered colonies were and how much winter loss had to be recouped by making splits or buying nucs or packaged bees. Beekeepers are happy to have some honey to sell this season, especially since both the wholesale and retail honey markets remain strong. Many buyers were disappointed last season that they could not buy their local honey variety favorites due to poor crops over most of the country.With continued strong demand and a general shortage of honey at the wholesale level, most of our reporters felt that prices should remain strong through the remainder of the year. According to some of our reporters, local packers are buying new crop honey quickly to restock their poor inventories. On the other hand, other packers are taking a “wait-and-see” attitude until they know how big the total U.S. honey crop will be before they commit themselves to a certain price. Many area reporters felt that their bees were in reasonably good shape coming out of summer honey flows. In the case of commercial almond pollinators, these colonies will begin receiving build-up syrup and pollen supplements to prime Them for early 2011 California almond pollination season. Almond pollination prices are expected to hold up well for the coming season and many beekeepers have already locked in prices and brood strength requirements for the 2011 season. NORTHEAST—Honey crops have been good for the most part this year, finally breaking a series of poor seasons for many Northeastern beekeepers. Unfortunately, as is always the case, some locations missed the good flows due to either dry, hot weather or too much rain at the wrong time. Weather turned hot and humid during much of July and early August before cooler nighttime temperatures and mild summer days returned. A number of beekeepers were reporting flows from goldenrod, aster, purple loosestrife, and Japanese knotwood. Reporters said that beekeepers hoped to produce perhaps one more super of honey before removing all supers and starting their late summer or fall medications and feeding. Bees are generally in good condition at this point, so beekeepers are optimistic.With better honey crops, beekeepers are also happy about being able to restock customers who have not been able to obtain local honey for quite some time. Demand is strong and prices have climbed at roadside markets, fairs and festivals. MIDEAST—Beekeepers reported average to excellent honey crops before the hot weather began in July. While some beekeepers missed their main flows from clover due to rainy weather, many others have told us that they have produced good honey crops from clover, as well as many wildflowers. Beekeepers were busy extracting honey in July and August. They were also beginning their mite treatments in mid to late August as the temperatures returned to more seasonal norms. Some told us that they were simply afraid to begin chemical mite treatments when temperatures were in the 90’s or triple digits. In the mountains sourwood flows were rated as below normal, although some beekeepers still received a super or more of sourwood honey. Some goldenrod and aster was blooming as this was written and beekeepers hoped that their colonies would be able to make some winter stores from these sources. Beekeepers were also busy with bottling and selling their honey.They are finding a very receptive customer base, especially for local favorites like sourwood, sumac, black locust and clover honey. SOUTHEAST—Florida honey crops were down anywhere from 25 to 50% from normal due to cool, rainy early spring weather followed by dry, hot weather later in the season. Although some of the orange honey crops were excellent, later important flows from tupelo, gallberry and palmetto were down significantly.Georgia honey crops were also down some, but some beekeepers did produce good crops. In the northern mountains, for example, sourwood flows were good. Mississippi honey flows were down about 10%, while reporters from Alabama believe their crop was near average or above average. Beekeepers anticipate having little trouble selling their honey production this season since both bottle-grade and industrial honey remain in short supply.Some beekeepers were already selling out of varietal honeys such as tupelo and orange. Fall flows are expected from goldenrod, aster and Spanish needles. In Florida, beekeepers mentioned flows from Brazilian pepper, melaleuca and black mangrove.The extremely hot, humid July was hard on bees. Many beekeepers waited on mite treatments until the weather cooled some.Varroa mite problems have not been severe, but in some parts of the Southeast, small hive beetles were again a major problem for beekeepers. SOUTHWEST—As major flows drew to a close in July, beekeepers were finishing their extracting and starting their late summer/early fall mite and disease treatments.Regional flows mentioned included soybeans, cotton, sunflowers, pumpkins, melons and wildflowers. Early flow reports were mixed, but many beekeepers were able to harvest fair to good crops before the extremely hot, dry weather began in July. Despite the difficult weather conditions, colonies were generally in fair to good condition. Beekeepers were finishing their honey extracting and bottling. Honey demand was listed as good for both wholesale and retail sales. As cooler weather returns this fall, sales are expected to pick up even more, especially as fall fairs and festivals get underway. EAST CENTRAL—Honey crops are definitely better than last season’s poor Yields, but due to excessive rains during main honey flows, some beekeepers were disappointed in their crops. The honey crop has been spotty, and some beekeepers have noticed great yield variations from one outyard to the next. The main crop came from clover, alfalfa and basswood.The thistle flow was disappointing for some beekeepers, however. Later honey flows were being received from purple loosestrife, goldenrod, aster, sunflowers and Japanese knotwood. Beekeepers were beginning their fall mite and disease control programs. Other beekeepers were busy extracting and bottling their crops. Honey remains in short supply, so both the wholesale and retail honey markets are still strong. Both Illinois and Michigan beekeepers were happy to hear that their state legislatures have passed laws to exempt small producers from expensive licensing and honey house inspections. This will allow many small producers to continue to sell their honey locally at farmers markets, fairs and festivals. WEST CENTRAL—Excessive rain also hurt honey crops in this area, but many locations were spared from the unrelenting summer showers and in these locations beekeepers have done quite well.In fact, some beekeepers are crediting the extra rain with helping their summer clover and alfalfa flows, as well as extending late alfalfa, smartweed, sunflower and goldenrod flows. Soybeans also produced some honey in July and August. South Dakota honey crops were hurt in The south and eastern parts of state by too much rain and then grasshoppers ate up some western locations. North Dakota sources were saying that many of this state’s beekeepers received excellent clover and alfalfa flows. Nebraska beekeepers also mentioned heavy rains, but in many cases sources felt that the added moisture actually helped honey flows rather than hurting them. Frequent summer rain showers also inundated parts of Iowa and Missouri, but a surprising number of beekeepers still believe that their bees will make an average or better honey crop. Early flows came from clover, basswood and alfalfa, but later in the season, after the rain showers let up, beekeepers also made some honey from soybeans, sunflowers, second-cutting alfalfa, goldenrod, aster, and smartweed. As this was written, beekeepers were extracting and bottling honey. Mite treatments were also starting as beekeepers began thinking about preparing their colonies for overwintering. High temperatures extending through August caused some beekeepers to delay mite treatments until milder seasonal temperatures returned. The honey market at both the wholesale and retail levels is good, although some producers said that a few packers were taking a wait-and-see attitude until more is known about the extent of the 2010 honey crop. Wholesale honey prices offered are ranging from $1.55 to $1.65 for white honey and between $1.50 and $1.60 for amber grades. Some small lots of honey are selling at considerably better than this, however. Retail sales at local roadside markets, fairs and festivals have been fair to good. Sales were expected to increase once cooler weather returns. INTERMOUNTAIN—Honey flows came a bit later, some delayed by rainy, cool weather, while others suffered from windy, dry conditions. Honey crops are generally better than last year, but some beekeepers were still disappointed with their total crops. Honey flows came from canola, yellow and white sweet clover, alfalfa, sunflowers and numerous wildflowers.Beekeepers are also hoping for some late winter stores from wildflowers such as goldenrod and rabbit brush. Extracting started a bit later than usual, but was well underway by the end of August.Prices being offered for larger lots of honey are mostly varying from $1.50 to $1.65 for white honey and 10 to 20 cents lower for amber grades. Some small lots were selling at higher prices. Retail sales of new crop honey were just beginning at roadside stands, fairs and festivals, but were expected to be brisk. Colonies were generally in good condition going into the fall months. Beekeepers were adding their mite and disease treatments as they removed their last supers for the season. Many of these colonies will be taken to California for build up and almond pollination later this year. WEST—Cool, rainy weather at times hampered late summer honey production from wildflowers and some cultivated crops along the California coast. Bees continued to work many wildflowers, but had been removed from the cotton and seed alfalfa fields for the season. Honey production from these later sources has only been fair to poor. Among the flower sources still being worked, beekeepers mentioned star thistle, lavender and mint. In Washington and Oregon, colonies had finished most of their clover and alfalfa flows, but were still working flowers such as buckwheat, knapweed and thistle. Some late mint fields Were also still producing nectar. Rabbit brush was also expected to produce some late honey for overwintering colonies. As the last supers are removed, many beekeepers are beginning to prepare for The 2011 almond season. These preparations include medications and mite treatments, as well as pollen supplements and syrup. Bees were generally in good shape coming out of honey flows.