city in Indiana
Honey bee forage in Bluffton, Indiana
Estimated forage here is better than about 46% of sites in Indiana. Against other Indiana sites it stands out most in fall (94th percentile) and lowest in summer (38th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.4 mi W, grown 1 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.4 mi W, grown 1 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 0.4 mi NE, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Bluffton?
- 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 Bluffton, 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 1.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, soybeans, garden flowers; 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, 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, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, 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 6,836 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.1 mi S, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 4 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 5,755 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.1 mi S, blooms early Jul – early Aug (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 Bluffton
Mostly: Soybeans; Corn; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards).
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.02 mi W; open water 0.02 mi S.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 69% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Bluffton ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 89th | 68th | 89th | 59th |
| Indiana | 46th | 67th | 38th | 94th |
| Eastern Corn Belt Plains | 24th | 76th | 23rd | 93rd |
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 Bluffton: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Craigville 5 mi · Vera Cruz 6 mi · Liberty Center 6 mi · Poneto 7 mi · Uniondale 7 mi · Tocsin 7 mi
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 Bluffton (40.7435, -85.1721); 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.