city in Indiana
Honey bee forage in South Bend, Indiana
Estimated forage here is better than about 2% of sites in Indiana. Against other Indiana sites it stands out most in fall (98th percentile) and lowest in summer (9th). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 1.6 mi SW, grown 3 of the last 5 years); soybeans (nearest 1.6 mi SW, grown 1 of the last 5 years); dry beans (nearest 3.5 mi NW, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in South Bend?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Jul 15, peaking early May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Aug 1 to Sep 30 (garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of South Bend, 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): 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, summer-flowering shrubs; 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): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, summer-flowering shrubs; 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
- Corn: about 413 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.9 mi SW, blooms early Jul – early Aug (grown 5 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 142 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.8 mi SW, blooms late Jun – late 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 South Bend
Mostly: Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Developed, medium intensity; Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns).
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.15 mi NW; pond, lake or river 0.91 mi SW.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 100% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How South Bend ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 57th | 64th | 65th | 70th |
| Indiana | 2nd | 63rd | 9th | 98th |
| Southern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift Plains | 2nd | 65th | 3rd | 75th |
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 South Bend: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Notre Dame 2 mi · Roseland 3 mi · Ardmore 3 mi · Indian Village 3 mi · Gilmer Park 4 mi · Mishawaka 5 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 South Bend (41.6766, -86.2688); 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.