city in Iowa
Honey bee forage in Oskaloosa, Iowa
Estimated forage here is better than about 12% of sites in Iowa. Against other Iowa sites it stands out most in fall (98th percentile) and lowest in summer (7th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 1.2 mi SE, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 1.2 mi SE, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Oskaloosa?
- First forage: Mar 1 (dandelion)
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Aug 15, peaking late Jun (clovers: white, alsike and red, soybeans, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Sep 1 to Sep 15 (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Oskaloosa, 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 1.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, soybeans, garden flowers; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers; 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); extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, soybeans, garden flowers; 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 1,063 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.5 mi N, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 561 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.5 mi N, 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 Oskaloosa
Mostly: Corn; Soybeans; Eastern Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.65 mi SW; pond, lake or river 0.68 mi E.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 95% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Oskaloosa ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 82nd | 77th | 82nd | 69th |
| Iowa | 12th | 95th | 7th | 98th |
| Western Corn Belt Plains | 6th | 98th | 3rd | 92nd |
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 Oskaloosa: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
University Park 1 mi · Beacon 2 mi · Keomah Village 5 mi · Leighton 8 mi · Eddyville 9 mi · Rose Hill 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 Oskaloosa (41.2922, -92.6409); 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.