village in Illinois
Honey bee forage in Mill Creek, Illinois
Estimated forage here is better than about 19% of sites in Illinois. Against other Illinois sites it stands out most in spring (98th percentile) and lowest in summer (9th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.1 mi NE, grown 4 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.1 mi NE, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Mill Creek?
- First forage: Feb 1 (early trees (maple, willow, poplar), dandelion)
- Main flow: Apr 1 to Jul 31, peaking early Jun (soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Season ends: Aug 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Mill Creek, 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 8.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): soybeans, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), dandelion; light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), garden flowers; amber
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; 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 332 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.1 mi NE, blooms late May – late Jul (grown 4 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 150 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.6 mi N, blooms early Jun – early Jul (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 Mill Creek
Mostly: South-Central Interior Mesophytic Forest; Southern Interior Low Plateau Dry-Mesic Oak Forest; Eastern Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland.
Nearest mapped water: open water 0.13 mi NW; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.24 mi E.
How Mill Creek ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 84th | 91st | 78th | 24th |
| Illinois | 19th | 98th | 9th | 57th |
| Interior Plateau | 85th | 58th | 82nd | 28th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 71% of the land here is scored with national averages for its vegetation type rather than measured plant cover, so the wild-plant part of this estimate is rougher than the crop part.
The national forage map around Mill Creek: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Dongola 5 mi · Ullin 6 mi · Tamms 7 mi · Jonesboro 8 mi · Anna 8 mi · Pulaski 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 Mill Creek (37.3409, -89.2531); 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.