city in Iowa
Honey bee forage in West Union, Iowa
Estimated forage here is better than about 42% of sites in Iowa. Against other Iowa sites it stands out most in fall (96th percentile) and lowest in summer (27th). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 0.3 mi W, grown 2 of the last 5 years); soybeans (nearest 0.4 mi SW, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in West Union?
- 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 West Union, 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 12.
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, alfalfa; white, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, soybeans; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, 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
- Corn: about 9,747 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.3 mi W, blooms early Jul – early Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 392 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.7 mi W, 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 West Union
Mostly: Corn; Soybeans; Eastern Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.22 mi S; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.28 mi NW.
How West Union ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 90th | 58th | 91st | 64th |
| Iowa | 42nd | 80th | 27th | 96th |
| Western Corn Belt Plains | 34th | 88th | 17th | 87th |
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 West Union: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Hawkeye 7 mi · Randalia 8 mi · Fayette 8 mi · Clermont 9 mi · Elgin 9 mi · St. Lucas 10 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 West Union (42.9589, -91.813); 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.