city in Iowa
Honey bee forage in North Washington, Iowa
Estimated forage here is better than about 40% of sites in Iowa. Against other Iowa sites it stands out most in spring (66th percentile) and lowest in summer (37th). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 0.3 mi NW, grown 3 of the last 5 years); soybeans (nearest 0.1 mi E, grown 2 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 0.4 mi SW, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in North Washington?
- First forage: Apr 1 (dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jul 1 to Aug 31, peaking late Jul (soybeans)
- Season ends: Sep 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of North Washington, 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 11.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, soybeans; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans
- Fall honey (September to November): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
Nectar-source estimate (plants weighted by how much bees favor them), not a pollen analysis. Full honey estimate.
Bee crops within flight range
- Corn: about 5,683 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.4 mi N, blooms early Jul – early Aug (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 858 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.4 mi SW, blooms late Jun – late 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 North Washington
Mostly: Corn; Soybeans; Northern & Central Ruderal Meadow.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.15 mi NE; pond, lake or river 0.15 mi NE.
How North Washington ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 90th | 42nd | 93rd | 42nd |
| Iowa | 40th | 66th | 37th | 64th |
| Western Corn Belt Plains | 31st | 76th | 28th | 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 North Washington: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Alta Vista 6 mi · Ionia 6 mi · Bassett 6 mi · New Hampton 7 mi · Elma 9 mi · Colwell 9 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 North Washington (43.1171, -92.4151); 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.