The importance of honey bees on Wisconsins agriculture industry [Video]

MADISON, Wis. (WSAW) – Wisconsin’s $104.8 billion agriculture industry consisting of various producers and farmers has another category of small-but-mighty workers that also help keep our agriculture industry thriving: the honey bee.

According to DATCP, in 2022, Wisconsin ranked 11th in the nation for honey production. With approximately 53,000 honey-producing hives in the state, Wisconsin produced nearly 3 million pounds of honey, making Wisconsin honey an $8.86 million industry.

Honey bees do much more than just produce a delicious product, they’re also pollinators that play an essential role in the growth of various produce crops in the state. Many of our foods are partially or fully reliant on insect pollinators to produce fruit, including cranberries, apples, strawberries, and tomatoes.

Through state statutes, DATCP oversees the state’s beekeeping industry and monitoring for the detection and eradication of honey bee pests and diseases. In addition, the department regulates the import of honey …