community in Indiana
Honey bee forage in South Milford, Indiana
Estimated forage here is better than about 34% of sites in Indiana. Against other Indiana sites it stands out most in fall (74th percentile) and lowest in summer (41st). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (right here, grown 2 of the last 5 years); soybeans (right here, grown 4 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 0.9 mi SW, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in South Milford?
- First forage: Mar 16 (early trees (maple, willow, poplar), dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Main flow: Jun 16 to Aug 15, peaking late Jul (soybeans)
- Season ends: Sep 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of South Milford, 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, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, alfalfa; white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); light amber, likely to set over some months
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; 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 2,184 acres in a typical year, nearest 0 mi , blooms early Jul – early Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 1,940 acres in a typical year, nearest 0 mi , blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 4 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 Milford
Mostly: Corn; Soybeans; North-Central Interior Beech-Maple Forest.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.07 mi SE; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.17 mi W.
How South Milford ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 87th | 52nd | 90th | 37th |
| Indiana | 34th | 52nd | 41st | 74th |
| Southern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift Plains | 66th | 41st | 67th | 19th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 36% of the land here is scored with national averages for its vegetation type rather than measured plant cover, so the wild-plant part of this estimate is rougher than the crop part.
The national forage map around South Milford: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Cree Lake 2 mi · Adams Lake 3 mi · Helmer 5 mi · Stroh 5 mi · Wolcottville 5 mi · Rome City 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 South Milford (41.532, -85.2663); 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.