city in Indiana
Honey bee forage in Columbus, Indiana
Estimated forage here is better than about 16% of sites in Indiana. Against other Indiana sites it stands out most in fall (88th percentile) and lowest in summer (22nd). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.6 mi W, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.6 mi W, grown 4 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Columbus?
- First forage: Mar 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Jun 1 to Aug 15, peaking late Jun (soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Columbus, 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 20.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, soybeans, early trees (maple, willow, poplar); light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, 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, 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 506 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.6 mi W, blooms early Jun – early Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 423 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.6 mi W, blooms late Jun – late Jul (grown 4 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 Columbus
Mostly: Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Corn; Soybeans.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.26 mi NW; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.28 mi NW.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 63% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Columbus ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 80th | 70th | 83rd | 49th |
| Indiana | 16th | 70th | 22nd | 88th |
| Eastern Corn Belt Plains | 4th | 78th | 11th | 86th |
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 Columbus: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Bethel Village 4 mi · Walesboro 4 mi · Petersville 6 mi · Harrison Lake 6 mi · Clifford 6 mi · Mineral Springs 6 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 Columbus (39.207, -85.9217); 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.