city in Indiana
Honey bee forage in Elwood, Indiana
Estimated forage here is better than about 65% of sites in Indiana. Against other Indiana sites it stands out most in fall (95th percentile) and lowest in summer (41st). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.7 mi NE, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.7 mi NE, grown 3 of the last 5 years); sunflower (nearest 1.6 mi SE, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Elwood?
- 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 Elwood, 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; extra 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 14,580 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.7 mi NE, blooms early Jun – late Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 9,561 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.7 mi NE, blooms early Jul – late Jul (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 Elwood
Mostly: Soybeans; Corn; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards).
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.28 mi SE; pond, lake or river 0.71 mi SW.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 89% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Elwood ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 93rd | 77th | 90th | 61st |
| Indiana | 65th | 76th | 41st | 95th |
| Eastern Corn Belt Plains | 46th | 84th | 26th | 94th |
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 Elwood: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Frankton 5 mi · Orestes 6 mi · Hobbs 6 mi · Alexandria 9 mi · Windfall City 9 mi · Perkinsville 9 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 Elwood (40.2738, -85.8371); 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.