village in Illinois
Honey bee forage in Richmond, Illinois
Estimated forage here is better than about 14% of sites in Illinois. Against other Illinois sites it stands out most in fall (94th percentile) and lowest in summer (19th). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 0.2 mi N, grown 2 of the last 5 years); soybeans (nearest 0.2 mi NW, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Richmond?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Main flow: Jun 16 to Aug 31, peaking late Jul (soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Richmond, 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 10.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), early trees (maple, willow, poplar); extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); white, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); light amber, likely to set over some months
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, likely to set over some months
Nectar-source estimate (plants weighted by how much bees favor them), not a pollen analysis. Full honey estimate.
Bee crops within flight range
- Corn: about 3,739 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.2 mi N, blooms early Jul – early Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 1,420 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.4 mi SW, blooms late Jun – late Aug (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 Richmond
Mostly: Eastern Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland; Soybeans; Corn.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0 mi S; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.13 mi NW.
How Richmond ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 82nd | 56th | 87th | 62nd |
| Illinois | 14th | 70th | 19th | 94th |
| Southeastern Wisconsin Till Plains | 56th | 72nd | 46th | 34th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 42% 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 Richmond: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Solon Mills 2 mi · Spring Grove 4 mi · Ringwood 5 mi · Greenwood 6 mi · Hebron 6 mi · Johnsburg 6 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 Richmond (42.4638, -88.3094); 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.