village in Illinois
Honey bee forage in Dana, Illinois
Estimated forage here is better than about 97% of sites in Illinois. Against other Illinois sites it stands out most in summer (89th percentile) and lowest in fall (30th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.1 mi SW, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.1 mi SW, grown 2 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 3.7 mi NE, grown 4 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Dana?
- First forage: Apr 16 (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 Dana, 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 30.
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, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); 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 16,595 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.1 mi SW, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 16,578 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.1 mi SW, blooms early Jul – early Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 5 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.7 mi NE, blooms early Jun – late Aug (grown 4 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 Dana
Mostly: Soybeans; Corn.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.62 mi SE; open water 1.35 mi W.
How Dana ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 98th | 26th | 99th | 10th |
| Illinois | 97th | 39th | 89th | 30th |
| Central Corn Belt Plains | 98th | 61st | 80th | 44th |
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 Dana: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Long Point 4 mi · Rutland 5 mi · Minonk 6 mi · Flanagan 7 mi · Wenona 8 mi · Toluca 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 Dana (40.9565, -88.95); 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.