city in Illinois
Honey bee forage in Momence, Illinois
Estimated forage here is better than about 43% of sites in Illinois. Against other Illinois sites it stands out most in fall (89th percentile) and lowest in summer (33rd). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.5 mi E, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.5 mi E, grown 3 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 0.6 mi W, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Momence?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jun 16 to Aug 15, peaking early Jul (soybeans)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Momence, 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 May 2.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, soybeans, black locust; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red; white, likely to set over some months
- 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, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers; 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 4,288 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.5 mi E, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 6,894 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.5 mi E, blooms early Jul – early Aug (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 Momence
Mostly: Corn; Soybeans; North-Central Interior Floodplain Forest.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.13 mi S; open water 0.13 mi S.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 53% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
- Bee crops nearby that are often sprayed. Sweet Corn: insecticides used on about 44% of surveyed US acres (2024). Figures are from USDA's Agricultural Chemical Use Survey, matched by crop type from the crop map. The survey counts any insecticide use in the crop year (not seed treatments) and doesn't say when; ask nearby growers about spray timing.
How Momence ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 90th | 62nd | 91st | 52nd |
| Illinois | 43rd | 76th | 33rd | 89th |
| Central Corn Belt Plains | 34th | 88th | 20th | 83rd |
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 Momence: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Sun River Terrace 5 mi · Grant Park 6 mi · Hopkins Park 7 mi · Aroma Park 9 mi · Bradley 10 mi · St. Anne 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 Momence (41.1636, -87.6635); 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.