community in Indiana
Honey bee forage in Helmer, Indiana
Estimated forage here is better than about 57% of sites in Indiana. Against other Indiana sites it stands out most in fall (66th percentile) and lowest in spring (43rd). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (right here, grown 4 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.1 mi SW, grown 3 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 1.1 mi S).
When is the honey flow in Helmer?
- First forage: Apr 1 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Main flow: Jun 16 to Aug 15, peaking late Jul (soybeans)
- Season ends: Aug 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Helmer, 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 5.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar); light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans
- 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); 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
- Soybeans: about 7,323 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.1 mi SW, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 4,738 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.1 mi SW, blooms early Jul – early Aug (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 Helmer
Mostly: Soybeans; Corn; North-Central Interior Beech-Maple Forest.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.12 mi NW; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.13 mi SW.
How Helmer ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 92nd | 42nd | 94th | 32nd |
| Indiana | 57th | 43rd | 58th | 66th |
| Southern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift Plains | 91st | 26th | 89th | 14th |
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 Helmer: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Stroh 4 mi · Wildwood 4 mi · Hudson 5 mi · South Milford 5 mi · Cree Lake 6 mi · Ashley 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 Helmer (41.5327, -85.1712); 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.