town in Indiana
Honey bee forage in North Manchester, Indiana
Estimated forage here is better than about 65% of sites in Indiana. Against other Indiana sites it stands out most in fall (94th percentile) and lowest in summer (43rd). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.5 mi NW, grown 3 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.5 mi N, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in North Manchester?
- 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 North Manchester, 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 2.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, soybeans; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers; 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, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers; 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 5,552 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.8 mi SW, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 6,781 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.7 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 North Manchester
Mostly: Soybeans; Corn; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards).
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.09 mi W; pond, lake or river 0.34 mi W.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 70% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How North Manchester ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 93rd | 76th | 91st | 59th |
| Indiana | 65th | 74th | 43rd | 94th |
| Southern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift Plains | 96th | 87th | 69th | 52nd |
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 North Manchester: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Liberty Mills 3 mi · Laketon 4 mi · Servia 4 mi · Sidney 7 mi · Urbana 7 mi · Silver Lake 8 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 North Manchester (41.0043, -85.7756); 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.