town in Alabama
Honey bee forage in Sipsey, Alabama
Estimated forage here is better than about 61% of sites in Alabama. Against other Alabama sites it stands out most in fall (79th percentile) and lowest in summer (56th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 3.5 mi NE, grown 3 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 3.6 mi NE, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Sipsey?
- First forage: Jan 1 (early trees (maple, willow, poplar), dandelion)
- Main flow: Feb 16 to May 15, peaking late Mar (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Sipsey, from what grows within flight range (about 3.7 miles) and when it blooms here. Dates are the model's estimate for a typical year; the spring index for this spot falls on Mar 17.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), garden flowers; amber
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), early trees (maple, willow, poplar); extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
Nectar-source estimate (plants weighted by how much bees favor them), not a pollen analysis. Full honey estimate.
Bee crops within flight range
- Soybeans: about 32 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.5 mi NE, blooms early May – early Jul (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 11 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.6 mi NE, blooms late May – late Jun (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
From USDA's crop maps for 2021–2025; fields rotate, so a crop counts by how often it was grown. Listing a field says nothing about its owner.
The land and water around Sipsey
Mostly: Allegheny-Cumberland Dry Oak Forest and Woodland; Southeastern North American Temperate Forest Plantation; South-Central Interior Mesophytic Forest.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.11 mi S; pond, lake or river 0.19 mi S.
How Sipsey ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 54th | 82nd | 19th | 25th |
| Alabama | 61st | 65th | 56th | 79th |
| Southwestern Appalachians | 46th | 35th | 33rd | 26th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 78% of the land here is scored with national averages for its vegetation type rather than measured plant cover, so the wild-plant part of this estimate is rougher than the crop part.
The national forage map around Sipsey: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Sumiton 5 mi · Dora 6 mi · Cordova 8 mi · West Jefferson 11 mi · Jasper 11 mi · Parrish 13 mi
An estimate from public maps (USDA crop maps 2021–2025 averaged, LANDFIRE vegetation), not a survey of the ground. Maps can't see garden plantings, understory density, other beekeepers' hives, or this year's weather. The point is the Census Bureau's published center of Sipsey (33.8221, -87.0829); a yard a mile or two away can differ, so check your own spot. The FEMA flood map was not checked for this page. Benchmark 2026.5, built 2026-10-19. How this works · All sources.