The combination of adverse weather and the ongoing colony collapse disorder of honey bees contributed to sharply lower honey yields and record low honey production in 2009. U.S. honey production declined by 12 percent or nearly 20 million pounds to 144 million pounds from 2008. Despite the 5.1-percent increase in the national number of honey-producing colonies in 2009, yield per colony fell by more than 16 percent on average. Double-digit production declines in 7 out of 10 major honey-producing States were closely matched by similar drops in yield ....

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