city in Iowa
Honey bee forage in Ames, Iowa
Estimated forage here is better than about 4% of sites in Iowa. Against other Iowa sites it stands out most in fall (99th percentile) and lowest in summer (2nd). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.9 mi E, grown 3 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.9 mi E, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Ames?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Apr 1 to Aug 15, peaking early May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, soybeans)
- Fall flow: Sep 1 to Sep 15 (clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, dandelion)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Ames, 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 May 5.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, lindens / basswood; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, soybeans, garden flowers, dandelion; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, soybeans; 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 59 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.9 mi E, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 91 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.9 mi E, blooms early Jul – early Aug (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 Ames
Mostly: Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Developed, medium intensity; Soybeans.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.31 mi W; open water 0.32 mi W.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 87% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Ames ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 77th | 75th | 77th | 73rd |
| Iowa | 4th | 94th | 2nd | 99th |
| Western Corn Belt Plains | 2nd | 97th | 2nd | 95th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
The national forage map around Ames: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Gilbert 6 mi · Kelley 6 mi · Nevada 8 mi · Huxley 9 mi · Cambridge 10 mi · Slater 11 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 Ames (42.0263, -93.6213); 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.