community in Indiana
Honey bee forage in Tri-Lakes, Indiana
Estimated forage here is better than about 25% of sites in Indiana. Against other Indiana sites it stands out most in fall (78th percentile) and lowest in summer (34th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.4 mi SW, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.4 mi SW, grown 3 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 1.1 mi NE, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Tri-Lakes?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- 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 Tri-Lakes, 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 4.
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, dandelion, garden flowers, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); light amber, likely to set over some months
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar); 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 3,942 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.4 mi SW, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 411 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.5 mi E, 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 Tri-Lakes
Mostly: Soybeans; Corn; North-Central Interior Beech-Maple Forest.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0 mi S; open water 0 mi S.
How Tri-Lakes ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 84th | 56th | 88th | 41st |
| Indiana | 25th | 56th | 34th | 78th |
| Southern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift Plains | 50th | 49th | 55th | 23rd |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 32% 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 Tri-Lakes: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Big Lake 3 mi · Merriam 3 mi · Wolflake 6 mi · Bear Lake 6 mi · Columbia City 6 mi · Churubusco 7 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 Tri-Lakes (41.2511, -85.4534); 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.