city in Iowa
Honey bee forage in Holstein, Iowa
Estimated forage here is better than about 60% of sites in Iowa. Against other Iowa sites it stands out most in spring (72nd percentile) and lowest in summer (42nd). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.3 mi SW, grown 1 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.3 mi SW, grown 1 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 0.2 mi W, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Holstein?
- First forage: Apr 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jul 1 to Aug 15, peaking late Jul (soybeans)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Holstein, 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 7.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, soybeans, alfalfa; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, alfalfa; white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Fall honey (September to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, alfalfa; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, alfalfa; 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 770 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.4 mi NE, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 4,933 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.4 mi NW, blooms early Jul – early Aug (grown 3 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 Holstein
Mostly: Soybeans; Corn.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.36 mi SW; open water 0.63 mi S.
How Holstein ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 93rd | 49th | 94th | 43rd |
| Iowa | 60th | 72nd | 42nd | 64th |
| Western Corn Belt Plains | 54th | 83rd | 34th | 58th |
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 Holstein: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Galva 6 mi · Cushing 7 mi · Ida Grove 11 mi · Washta 11 mi · Quimby 11 mi · Battle Creek 12 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 Holstein (42.4871, -95.5429); 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.