city in Illinois
Honey bee forage in Du Quoin, Illinois
Estimated forage here is better than about 46% of sites in Illinois. Against other Illinois sites it stands out most in spring (97th percentile) and lowest in summer (19th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.3 mi W, grown 3 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.3 mi W, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Du Quoin?
- First forage: Feb 16 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: May 16 to Jul 31, peaking early Jun (soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Du Quoin, 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 12.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- 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, 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
- Soybeans: about 472 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.3 mi W, blooms late May – early Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 475 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.7 mi E, blooms early Jun – early Jul (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 Du Quoin
Mostly: Eastern Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland; Soybeans; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards).
Nearest mapped water: open water 0.15 mi E; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.17 mi W.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 66% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Du Quoin ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 91st | 89th | 87th | 40th |
| Illinois | 46th | 97th | 19th | 77th |
| Interior River Valleys and Hills | 62nd | 93rd | 34th | 76th |
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 Du Quoin: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
St. Johns 2 mi · Dowell 4 mi · Elkville 6 mi · Mulkeytown 7 mi · Pinckneyville 8 mi · Vergennes 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 Du Quoin (38.0017, -89.2328); 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.