Leaders from across the U.S. agriculture and food sectors are expressing support and optimism in new opportunities for collaboration with their Cuban counterparts. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that Research and Promotion Programs and Marketing Order organizations may conduct research and information sharing with Cuba. The groups represent U.S. beef, pork, corn soy and other commodities and are responsible for creating bonds with consumers and businesses around the world in support of U.S. agriculture.

Honey production in 2015 dropped 12 percent in operations with five or more bee colonies. The USDA report released Tuesday shows honey production in 2015 from producers with five or more colonies totaled 157 million pounds. There were 2.66 million colonies from which honey was harvested in 2015, down three percent from 2014. Yield of honey harvested per colony averaged 58.9 pounds, down ten percent from the 65.1 pounds in 2014. At the same time, U.S. honey prices decreased during 2015, down four percent from a record high of 217.3 cents per pound in 2014.

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