city in Illinois
Honey bee forage in Pontiac, Illinois
Estimated forage here is better than about 27% of sites in Illinois. Against other Illinois sites it stands out most in fall (89th percentile) and lowest in summer (25th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.2 mi N, grown 3 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.2 mi N, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Pontiac?
- 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 Pontiac, 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 29.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, soybeans, lindens / basswood; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, 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, 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 114 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.2 mi N, blooms early Jun – late Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 2,908 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.9 mi E, blooms early Jul – late Jul (grown 1 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 Pontiac
Mostly: Soybeans; Corn; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards).
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.11 mi S; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.28 mi W.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 61% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Pontiac ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 87th | 60th | 89th | 52nd |
| Illinois | 27th | 74th | 25th | 89th |
| Central Corn Belt Plains | 20th | 87th | 16th | 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 Pontiac: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Cornell 8 mi · Odell 10 mi · Flanagan 11 mi · Chenoa 11 mi · Fairbury 12 mi · Saunemin 12 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 Pontiac (40.8892, -88.6414); 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.