city in Kansas
Honey bee forage in Topeka, Kansas
Estimated forage here is better than about 77% of sites in Kansas. Against other Kansas sites it stands out most in spring (98th percentile) and lowest in summer (44th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 2.3 mi N, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 2.3 mi N, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Topeka?
- First forage: Feb 16 (dandelion)
- Main flow: Mar 16 to Jun 30, peaking late Apr (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Jul 16 to Aug 31 (garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Topeka, 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 17.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, lindens / basswood; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, lindens / basswood; 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 42 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.3 mi N, blooms early Jun – early Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 269 acres in a typical year, nearest 3 mi N, 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 Topeka
Mostly: Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Developed, medium intensity; Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns).
Nearest mapped water: open water 0.36 mi SW; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.4 mi SE.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 100% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Topeka ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 84th | 95th | 73rd | 65th |
| Kansas | 77th | 98th | 44th | 70th |
| Central Irregular Plains | 29th | 87th | 16th | 98th |
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 Topeka: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Tecumseh 6 mi · Grantville 8 mi · Silver Lake 10 mi · Wakarusa 10 mi · Auburn 11 mi · Meriden 13 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 Topeka (39.0347, -95.6962); 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.