city in Illinois
Honey bee forage in Jacksonville, Illinois
Estimated forage here is better than about 17% of sites in Illinois. Against other Illinois sites it stands out most in fall (94th percentile) and lowest in summer (13th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 1.1 mi E, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 1.1 mi NE, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Jacksonville?
- First forage: Mar 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Aug 15, peaking late Jun (clovers: white, alsike and red, soybeans, dandelion)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Jacksonville, 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): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, soybeans, lindens / basswood; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; 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; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, soybeans, 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 1,902 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.2 mi SW, blooms early Jun – early Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 2,006 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.2 mi SW, blooms late Jun – late 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 Jacksonville
Mostly: Soybeans; Corn; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards).
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.04 mi S; open water 0.8 mi S.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 100% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Jacksonville ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 84th | 80th | 83rd | 61st |
| Illinois | 17th | 91st | 13th | 94th |
| Interior River Valleys and Hills | 28th | 81st | 24th | 99th |
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 Jacksonville: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
South Jacksonville 2 mi · Lynnville 7 mi · Woodson 7 mi · Literberry 9 mi · Chapin 9 mi · Concord 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 Jacksonville (39.7292, -90.2322); 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.