community in Kansas
Honey bee forage in Herkimer, Kansas
Estimated forage here is better than about 97% of sites in Kansas. Against other Kansas sites it stands out most in summer (98th percentile) and lowest in spring (19th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (right here, grown 3 of the last 5 years); corn (right here, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Herkimer?
- First forage: Mar 16 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Jun 16 to Aug 15, peaking early Jul (soybeans)
- Season ends: Aug 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Herkimer, 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 Apr 23.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): soybeans, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion, native wildflowers; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; amber, likely to set over some months
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), dandelion; light amber, likely to set over some months
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 1,119 acres in a typical year, nearest 0 mi S, blooms early Jun – early Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 1,180 acres in a typical year, nearest 0 mi S, blooms late Jun – late Jul (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 Herkimer
Mostly: Soybeans; Corn; Central Tallgrass Prairie.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.21 mi SE; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.29 mi SE.
How Herkimer ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 94th | 38th | 95th | 46th |
| Kansas | 97th | 19th | 98th | 43rd |
| Central Great Plains | 99th | 26th | 96th | 44th |
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 Herkimer: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Bremen 5 mi · Marysville 5 mi · Oketo 8 mi · Hanover 9 mi · Home 11 mi · Waterville 14 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 Herkimer (39.8924, -96.7089); 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.