Idaho bee season underway

Boise — With excellent snowpack and wet winter Idaho honey production is on the rise.

The USDA’s annual honey production report revealed that Idaho producers yielded more than 34 pounds of honey per hive, that’s close to last years production numbers.

United States honey production in 2018 hit more than 148 million pounds, but thats down from the previous year.

There are 2.67 million colonies producing honey in 2017, down 4 percent from 2016. Yield per colony averaged 55.3 pounds, down 5 percent from the 58.3 pounds last year.

Idaho honey production starts with a bloom and hot, summer temperatures. The above normal snowpack across much of Idaho will set up a prolific bloom for all kinds of plants — and even weeds — across most of the states. Weather this past winter was not hot nor too cold and allowed bees to pack away both honey and pollen well into the fall.