village in Illinois
Honey bee forage in Atwood, Illinois
Estimated forage here is better than about 92% of sites in Illinois. Spring, summer and fall all rank about the same against other Illinois sites. Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.2 mi SE, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.2 mi SW, grown 1 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 1.0 mi E, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Atwood?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jun 16 to Aug 15, peaking early Jul (soybeans)
- Season ends: Aug 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Atwood, 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 Apr 23.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): soybeans, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; 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 15,234 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.2 mi SE, blooms early Jun – early Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 15,731 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.2 mi SW, blooms late Jun – late Jul (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 12 acres in a typical year, nearest 1 mi E, blooms early Jun – 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 Atwood
Mostly: Corn; Soybeans; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards).
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.27 mi SW; open water 0.28 mi SW.
How Atwood ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 98th | 54th | 97th | 25th |
| Illinois | 92nd | 67th | 66th | 58th |
| Central Corn Belt Plains | 90th | 83rd | 50th | 67th |
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 Atwood: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Garrett 2 mi · Arthur 6 mi · Hammond 7 mi · Tuscola 10 mi · Ivesdale 10 mi · Bement 10 mi
All towns in Illinois · National map · How the scoring works
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 Atwood (39.7993, -88.4627); 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.