city in Iowa
Honey bee forage in Sibley, Iowa
Estimated forage here is better than about 83% of sites in Iowa. Against other Iowa sites it stands out most in fall (99th percentile) and lowest in summer (39th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.4 mi SW, grown 4 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.6 mi NE, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Sibley?
- First forage: Apr 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jul 1 to Aug 31, peaking late Jul (soybeans)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Sibley, 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 13.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, soybeans, garden flowers; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red; white, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers; 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 1,616 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.7 mi W, blooms late Jun – early Sep (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 475 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.6 mi NE, 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 Sibley
Mostly: Soybeans; Corn; Northern & Central Ruderal Meadow.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.33 mi E; open water 0.33 mi E.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 52% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Sibley ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 95th | 60th | 93rd | 73rd |
| Iowa | 83rd | 82nd | 39th | 99th |
| Western Corn Belt Plains | 80th | 90th | 30th | 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 Sibley: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Ashton 7 mi · Little Rock 8 mi · Ocheyedan 10 mi · Melvin 10 mi · George 14 mi · Matlock 15 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 Sibley (43.4015, -95.743); 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.