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The Economic Contributions of the Florida Beekeeping Industry

Publication

Amy Vu
State Specialized Program Extension Agent
University of Florida
Gainesville

Team Members: Vu, A*1, Court, C2, Hodges, A3, Roberts, L4, Carney, T5, Ellis, J6, Athearn, K*7, Ferreira, J8, McDaid, K9, Oster, C10, Prouty, C11
  1. State Specialized Program Extension Agent, UF/IFAS Honey Bee Research and Extension Laboratory, Gainesville, Florida, 32611
  2. ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF REGIONAL ECONOMICS AND DIRECTOR, ECONOMIC IMPACT ANALYSIS PROGRAM, UF/IFAS Food and Resource Economics Department, Gainesville, Florida, 32603
  3. Extension Scientist, UF/IFAS Food and Resource Economics Department, Gainesville, Florida, 32603
  4. Undergraduate Student, UF/IFAS Honey Bee Research and Extension Laboratory, Gainesville, Florida, 32603
  5. PhD Student, UF/IFAS Forest Resources & Conservation, Gainesville, Florida, 32603
  6. Gahan Endowed Professor of Entomology, UF/IFAS Honey Bee Research and Extension Laboratory, Gainesville, Florida, 32603
  7. Regional Specialized Extension Agent III, Rural and Agribusiness Development,, UF/IFAS North Florida Research & Education Center - Suwannee Valley, Live Oak, Florida, 32060
  8. Postdoctoral Research Associate, UF/IFAS Food and Resource Economics Department, Gainesville, Florida, 32603
  9. Research Coordinator, UF/IFAS Food and Resource Economics Department, Gainesville, Florida, 32603
  10. Lab Manager, UF/IFAS Honey Bee Research and Extension Laboratory, Gainesville, Florida, 32603
  11. Former Lab Technician, UF/IFAS Honey Bee Research and Extension Laboratory, Gainesville, Florida, 32603

Abstract

Florida currently has over 5,000 registered beekeepers who manage over 800,000 colonies, including many from across the nation that overwinter their colonies in the state. These colonies produce honey and contribute to increased crop production through pollination services. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the economic contributions of the Florida beekeeping industry for the year 2020. Such a study had not been completed since 1999. This project was sponsored by the Florida State Beekeepers Association. Data for this project were collected via a beekeeper survey that received a 25.8% response rate (1,206 beekeepers). The report offers data and insights related to Florida beekeeper experience, number of colonies managed, employment, products and pollination services, revenue, operating expenses, investments, colony losses, threats to Florida beekeeping and more. The report was created to increase public awareness of the economic contributions of the beekeeping industry and to help inform government decision-making related to beekeeping in Florida and across the country. Fact sheets, infographics, postcards and QR codes were shared, which all referenced or linked to the 52-page report. The full report can be found at: https://fred.ifas.ufl.edu/media/fredifasufledu/economic-impact-analysis/FRE_Economic_Contributions_Apiculture_Report_2020_WEB.pdf . The Apiculture State Specialized Program Extension Agent collaborated with faculty and staff in the Food and Resource Economics Department, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, and the North Florida Research and Education Center in Suwannee Valley to recruit and survey over 4,000 Florida registered beekeepers. The agent took part in bi-monthly meetings to help with survey development and distribution, data analysis, and contributed to writing, reviewing, and working with beekeepers to secure photos for the report. Once the content and photos were complete, UF/IFAS communications designed the final report. The report was published in October 2022 and presented to the 75 attendees at the Florida State Beekeepers Association annual meeting. The information from this report has also been shared to 300 participants at the UF/IFAS Bee College workshop, over 150,000 individuals who visit the Florida State Fair, and 550 participants nationally at the American Beekeeping Federation Conference in January 2023.