Top states for beekeeping in 2024
The location of a beekeeping operation can significantly impact a beekeeper’s success, with factors like honey production rates, colony health, and local support systems varying widely across the United States.
To celebrate the end of the 2024 honey harvest, Lawn Love analyzed available data across 39 states to rank the best places for beekeeping this year.
Their study assessed 29 metrics, grouped into four key categories: profitability, colony health, education and support, and environmental/regulatory factors.
California claimed the top spot with a strong score of 55.66, owing to high honey production, robust colony health, and excellent resources for education and support.
New York followed 45.93, excelling in profitability and regulatory factors, though it ranked lower in colony health. North Dakota 42.89, a state known for large-scale honey production, secured third place, though its environmental conditions presented a challenge.
Texas, in fourth place with 42.36, led in colony and population health, showcasing minimal colony losses, but faced challenges in environmental and regulatory factors.
Montana rounded out the top five with 40.32 consistent scores across all categories and strong honey production rates.
The middle-ranking states present varied strengths and challenges. Florida, for instance is 38.57, ranks seventh overall with high colony health and educational support but contends with environmental issues that impact sustainability.
Michigan and Pennsylvania follow with balanced rankings across profitability, colony health, and support factors but with mixed regulatory conditions.
Lower-ranked states, such as Louisiana with 26.85, Wyoming with 26.44, and Arkansas with 22.45, faced challenges in profitability and regulatory support, which impacted their beekeeping scores.
For example, Louisiana, ranking 29th, excels in colony health but struggles with profitability and regulatory support, making it less favorable for beekeepers focused on economic gains.
Despite the wide variation in scores, beekeepers in any state can find ways to maximize success by understanding their local environment and regulations, improving colony health practices, and leveraging available educational resources.
This ranking offers insight into which states provide the most favorable conditions for beekeepers, from the availability of apiculture establishments to environmental stability, helping beekeepers make informed decisions on where to establish or expand their operations.
Ultimately, while some regions provide more advantageous conditions, strategies like effective colony management and community support networks remain essential for successful beekeeping nationwide.
Photo Credit: istock-kerem-hanci