The buzz on beekeeping in North Dakota

Beekeeping is an odd profession to many, but it’s incredibly important: the wax, honey, and pollen produced by beehives are essential to the production of many foods and plant growth in general. Thankfully, North Dakota is a state that understands their importance… but how does its beekeeping business compare to the rest of America?

In a study on beekeeping across the United States, researchers with Lawn Love gathered data on multiple factors of beekeeping — including colony health, population, honey production, and apiary support — for 39 states where this information was available. When these rankings were added together to create an average score, it was determined that North Dakota is one of the biggest and best places for beekeepers in America, especially as far as honey production is concerned.

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Below is a closer look at North Dakota’s beekeeping statistics by the numbers, as well as how they compare to the rest of the United States.

• Number of Honey-Producing Colonies: 511,000 (highest in the nation)
• Value of Honey Production: $67.8 million (highest in the nation)
• Total Honey Production: 38.3 million pounds (highest in the nation)
• Added Colonies: 56,700 (6th highest in the nation)
• Number of Apiculture Establishments: 48 (4th highest in the nation)

These impressive statistics are more than enough to guarantee North Dakota a place among America’s best areas for beekeeping… but not every state has the same level of success. On the opposite end of this spectrum, Arizona, Utah, and Arkansas rank very low thanks to high colony loss rates and smaller honey industries.

While the beekeeping industry in North Dakota is already strong, there are plenty of ways one can help keep the bee population strong throughout the state. Here’s a quick list of simple steps to do just that.

• Replace your grass with clover, a favorite of bees.
• Plant native plants to attract native bees.
• Choose organic pest control methods, which only contain natural chemicals (such as sulfur, neem oil, or diatomaceous earth).
• Invite bees to your garden with a bee-friendly landscape (Lawnlove has an article on how to create one here).

To view the full study — including the individual category rankings for every state and beekeeping advice from professionals — visit this page on Lawnlove’s website.