city in Kansas
Honey bee forage in Independence, Kansas
Estimated forage here is better than about 88% of sites in Kansas. Against other Kansas sites it stands out most in spring (99th percentile) and lowest in fall (34th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.5 mi NW, grown 4 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 1.0 mi W, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Independence?
- First forage: Feb 16 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Apr 1 to Jul 31, peaking early Jun (clovers: white, alsike and red, soybeans, dandelion)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Independence, 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 8.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, soybeans; extra 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, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); amber
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, soybeans, dandelion, garden flowers; 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
- Soybeans: about 561 acres in a typical year, nearest 1 mi E, blooms late May – late Jul (grown 4 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 313 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.1 mi E, blooms early Jun – early 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 Independence
Mostly: Eastern Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland; Crosstimbers Oak Forest and Woodland; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards).
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.22 mi W; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.32 mi W.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 76% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Independence ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 89th | 96th | 81st | 38th |
| Kansas | 88th | 99th | 66th | 34th |
| Central Irregular Plains | 63rd | 89th | 32nd | 50th |
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 Independence: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Sycamore 6 mi · Liberty 8 mi · Cherryvale 9 mi · Wayside 11 mi · Elk City 11 mi · Dearing 12 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 Independence (37.2335, -95.716); 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.