Overview
According to USDA reports, 2.3 million honey-producing colonies in 2008 (down 6% from 2007) generated 161 million pounds of raw honey (up 8% from 2007). The states producing the most honey in 2008 were (in order) North Dakota, South Dakota and California. The average price for domestically produced honey was a record high $1.41 per pound, up 31 percent from 2007. Honey prices for 2008 were up for all color classes and in all markets.  (NASS 2009)  February 2010 ... Bees

Marketing

• American Beekeeping Federation - Membership organization for American beekeepers.
• American Honey Producers Association
• Apimondia, International Federation of Beekeepers Associations - International organization creating links among beekeepers around the world.
• Apiservices Beekeeping Development - Promotion of beekeeping with advice columns, feasibility studies, market studies, equipment tests and software.
• Bee-conomics and the Leap in Pollination Fees, Agricultural Issues Center, University of California, 2006 - Paper describing honeybee supply and demand issues and the operation of the pollination market. Recently, honeybee pests and other problems have reduced available supplies, while expansion of almond acreage has increased peak-season demand. The resulting leap in pollination fees follows from these market fundamentals.
• Bee Exports and Imports, Global Agricultural Trade System (GATS), Foreign Ag Service (FAS), USDA, 2009.
• Bees, Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Queensland, Australia.
• Canada’s Honey Industry, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, Ontario - The United States remained the primary destination for Canadian honey exports in 2007, absorbing 86 percent of total exports.
• Congress and Agencies Should Take Additional Steps to Reduce Substantial Shortfalls in Duty Collection, Government Accountability Office, 2008 - Over $600 million in duties remain uncollected, dating back to 2001. A majority of the uncollected duties comes from four products from China: crawfish tail meat ($354 million), garlic ($75 million), honey ($43 million) and mushrooms ($41 million).
• Honey, National Ag Statistical Service (NASS), USDA, 2009 - This publication contains the annual report of the number of colonies producing honey, state and U.S. honey production, average price and total value.
• Honey, Food Availability (Per Capita) Data System, Economical Research Service (ERS), USDA, 2007.
• Honey Research and Promotion Programs, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), USDA.
• The International Bee Research Association - Nonprofit organization promoting the study and conservation of bees through research.
• Mid-Atlantic Apiculture  Research and Extension Consortium (MAAREC) - Established in 1997, this regional group focuses on addressing the pest management crisis facing the beekeeping industry in the Mid-Atlantic region.
• National Honey Board - Promoting the research, awareness and use of honey and honey products.
• National Honey Report, AMS, USDA - The annual report of the number of colonies producing honey, honey production, average price, and so on. 
• BeeHoo - World's beekeeping directory.
• National Honey Packers & Dealers Association

Production

• Beekeeping, Agricultural Alternatives, Penn State University, 2001 - Includes an enterprise budget.
• Beekeeping, National Agricultural Library, USDA.
• Beekeeping/Apiculture, Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas (ATTRA), NCAT, 2003.
• Beekeeping in Tennessee, University of Tennessee Extension, 2004.
• Bees and Pollination, Ohio State University.
• Bee Health, eXtension - This comprehensive resource for science-based information on bee health management strategies provides help for new and inexperienced producers, as well as those with experience but who need an answer to a specific question. The site also includes in-depth, peer-reviewed articles covering bee biology and production.
• Carl Hayden Bee Research Center, Agricultural Research Service (ARS), USDA, Arizona.
• Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) in Honey Bees, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, 2007.
  
• Enterprise Budget: Beekeeping, Leopold Center, Iowa State University Extension and Beginning Farmer Center.
• Honey Bee Colony Collapse Disorder, Congressional Research Service, 2010 - Between the winters of 2006/2007 and 2007/2008, managed bee colony losses averaged more than 30 percent. However, estimates for winter 2008/2009 suggest a possible decrease in the rate of bee colony losses.
• Honey Bee Insemination Service - Provider of insemination training, consulting, equipment and services to insemination as well as genetic research.
• Honey Co-op Buzzing in Chicago, Rural Cooperatives, Rural Development, USDA, 2009.
• Integrated Pest Management for Varroa Destructor in the Northeastern United States using Drone Brood Removal and Formic Acid, Cornell University, 2005 (funded by SARE, USDA) - This fact sheet focuses on the management of the parasitic honey bee mite Varroa destructor in the northeastern United States.
• Michigan State University Apiculture Laboratory - Researching the value of honey bees for both production and pollination.
• Mid-Atlantic Apiculture Research and Extension Consortium, Penn State University - The Mid-Atlantic Apiculture Research and Extension Consortium (MAAREC) is a regional effort to address the pest management crisis facing the beekeeping industry in the Mid-Atlantic region.
• Protecting Honey Bees from Chemical Pesticides, Berry Notes, University of Massachusetts Extension, 2007.
• Recent Honey Bee Colony Declines, Congressional Research Service, 2009 - Starting in late 2006, East Coast beekeepers began reporting sharp declines in their honey bee colonies. Eventually, beekeepers in 35 states were affected. Bee colony losses averaged about 30 percent in 2007, with continued average annual losses of 35 percent nationwide in 2008.
• Solving the Mystery of the Vanishing Bees, Scientific American magazine, 2009 - The ailment called colony collapse disorder has wiped out large numbers of bees. The causes turn out to be complex, but solutions are emerging.
• Two-Colony Hive Productivity Trials, Sustainable Ag Research and Education (SARE) Farmer Grant Profiles, 2008 - Beekeeper Michael Johnston built innovative bee boxes and compared them to standard boxes.
• USDA Beekeeping Research - Collection of USDA beekeeping research posted by the American Beekeeping Federation.

Businesses/Case Studies

• Honey Gardens Apiaries, Hinesburg, Vermont, PCC Natural Markets, Seattle, Washington, 2005.
• Mountain Top Honey, Mountainaire, Arizona - Dennis Arp manages an enterprise of 1,200 beehives that on average produce 100,000 pounds of honey a year. He also sells beeswax to candle and salve makers, pollen at health food stores and the resin-like propolis, which the bees use to make repairs and which has antibacterial qualities, to makers of herbal medical products.
• Small Town Hives Make Big Buzz, Market to Market, Iowa Public Television, 2003.

Links checked January 2010.