Honey and maple products

Things were sweet for honey producers in 2006, as they reported having the second best year in history. Preliminary data show that Canadian apiaries produced an estimated 95 million pounds of honey, missing the record high by about 7 million pounds. Honey production has experienced ups and downs since the early 1990s, but the overall trend has been more production over the past 15 years. Alberta continued to be the largest honey producing province with approximately 250,000 colonies and 40% of the nation's honey production.

Canadian maple syrup production slid 8% from last year. Sugar bush farmers in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Ontario reported slight increases. Quebec farmers, who represent about 90% of the Canadian maple syrup production, reported a 10% decrease in the volume of maple syrup. This decrease was due to the drop in the number of taps that declined by 3.5 million compared to 2005.

Prices were about the same as last year so the drop in value can be attributed to the drop in volume. To date, Canadian maple producers sold $178 million worth of maple in 2006 compared to $192 million in 2005.

Available on CANSIM: tables 001-0007 and 001-0008.

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey numbers, including related surveys, 3414 and 3419.

The 2006 issue of Production and Value of Honey and Maple Products (23-221-XIE, free) is now available online. From the Publications module of our website, choose Free Internet publications, then Agriculture.

For further information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Marco Morin (613-951-2074), Agriculture Division.