village in Illinois
Honey bee forage in Broadlands, Illinois
Estimated forage here is better than about 98% of sites in Illinois. Against other Illinois sites it stands out most in summer (84th percentile) and lowest in fall (33rd). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.1 mi NW, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.1 mi NW, grown 3 of the last 5 years); peas (nearest 1.2 mi W, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Broadlands?
- First forage: Apr 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jun 16 to Aug 15, peaking early Jul (soybeans)
- Season ends: Aug 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Broadlands, 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 26.
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; extra 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 16,509 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.1 mi NW, blooms early Jun – early Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 16,591 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.1 mi NW, blooms late Jun – late Jul (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Peas: about 17 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.2 mi W, blooms early May – early Jun (grown 1 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 Broadlands
Mostly: Corn; Soybeans.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.04 mi N; pond, lake or river 2.15 mi W.
How Broadlands ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 98th | 36th | 99th | 12th |
| Illinois | 98th | 47th | 84th | 33rd |
| Central Corn Belt Plains | 99th | 71st | 73rd | 47th |
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 Broadlands: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Allerton 3 mi · Longview 4 mi · Newman 8 mi · Homer 9 mi · Sidney 9 mi · Villa Grove 9 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 Broadlands (39.9087, -87.9971); 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.