North Dakota: 20 Years of Honey Production Leadership

For more than two decades, North Dakota has worn the crown as the largest honey-producing state in the United States, and it shows no signs of slowing down. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, North Dakota produced over 36 million pounds of honey in 2024, marking its 21st consecutive year as the nation's leading honey producer (USDA NASS, 2025). However, the U.S. relies heavily on imported honey, with imports covering a significant portion of the total honey available.

Why North Dakota Leads the Hive

The state’s unique blend of long summer days, vast open prairies, and nectar-rich crops, such as clover, alfalfa, and canola, makes it the perfect environment for honeybees. With minimal pesticide use and wide foraging areas, bees thrive here, producing some of the purest and highest-quality honey in the country (ND Dept. of Agriculture, 2024).

Local beekeepers also benefit from strong state programs that regulate hive health and manage disease prevention, keeping North Dakota’s bee industry healthy and productive year after year.

Behind the Numbers

In 2023, North Dakota’s honey was valued at over $67 million, with roughly 38 million pounds produced, outpacing every other state by a wide margin (North Dakota Ag Connection, 2025). That consistency highlights not only the strength of the state’s environment but also the dedication of its beekeeping community.

A Future as Golden as Its Honey

As demand grows for raw, local, and natural honey, North Dakota continues to set the gold standard for sustainable beekeeping and agricultural excellence. From the clover fields of the Red River Valley to the canola blossoms in the west, every jar of North Dakota honey represents a legacy of care, craftsmanship, and community.

References

• USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (2025): North Dakota Honey Production Report data.nass.usda.gov
  
  

• North Dakota Department of Agriculture (2024): Apiary (Honey Bees) Overview ndda.nd.gov
  
  

• North Dakota Ag Connection (2025): How North Dakota Became the Honey Leader northdakotaagconnection.com