town in Indiana
Honey bee forage in New Chicago, Indiana
Estimated forage here is better than about 17% of sites in Indiana. Against other Indiana sites it stands out most in fall (100th percentile) and lowest in summer (16th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 1.1 mi SE, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 1.1 mi SE, grown 3 of the last 5 years); sunflower (nearest 2.4 mi E, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in New Chicago?
- First forage: Mar 1 (dandelion)
- Main flow: Apr 1 to Jul 15, peaking early May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Aug 1 to Sep 15 (garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of New Chicago, 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 3.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, lindens / basswood; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, dandelion, soybeans; 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): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, soybeans; 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 113 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.7 mi NW, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 110 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.4 mi NE, blooms early Jul – early 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 New Chicago
Mostly: Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Developed, medium intensity; Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns).
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.17 mi SE; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.18 mi SE.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 84% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How New Chicago ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 81st | 83rd | 77th | 78th |
| Indiana | 17th | 82nd | 16th | 100th |
| Central Corn Belt Plains | 9th | 98th | 5th | 97th |
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 New Chicago: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Lake Station 2 mi · Hobart 3 mi · Gary 4 mi · Portage 5 mi · Ross 6 mi · Wheeler 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 New Chicago (41.5587, -87.2717); 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.