city in Kansas
Honey bee forage in McPherson, Kansas
Estimated forage here is better than about 77% of sites in Kansas. Against other Kansas sites it stands out most in spring (94th percentile) and lowest in fall (54th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 1.2 mi NE, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.8 mi S, grown 4 of the last 5 years); sorghum (nearest 1.4 mi SE, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in McPherson?
- First forage: Feb 16 (dandelion)
- Main flow: Mar 16 to Jul 31, peaking late Apr (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, soybeans)
- Fall flow: Aug 16 to Aug 31 (garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of McPherson, 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 16.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, soybeans, black locust; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, soybeans, 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 246 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.3 mi NW, blooms early Jun – early Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 80 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.8 mi S, blooms late Jun – late Jul (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 McPherson
Mostly: Winter Wheat; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Corn.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.49 mi E; open water 0.5 mi E.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 96% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How McPherson ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 84th | 89th | 79th | 54th |
| Kansas | 77th | 94th | 62nd | 54th |
| Central Great Plains | 87th | 99th | 70th | 55th |
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 McPherson: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Elyria 6 mi · Galva 7 mi · Inman 11 mi · Canton 13 mi · Windom 13 mi · Moundridge 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 McPherson (38.3699, -97.6645); 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.