city in Kentucky
Honey bee forage in Hopkinsville, Kentucky
Estimated forage here is better than about 80% of sites in Kentucky. Against other Kentucky sites it stands out most in summer (78th percentile) and lowest in fall (38th). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 0.1 mi NE, grown 1 of the last 5 years); soybeans (nearest 0.1 mi NE, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Hopkinsville?
- First forage: Feb 1 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: May 16 to Jul 31, peaking early Jun (soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Hopkinsville, 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 5.
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): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, 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
- Corn: about 1,469 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.4 mi E, blooms early Jun – early Jul (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 3 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.1 mi NE, blooms late May – late Jul (grown 1 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 Hopkinsville
Mostly: Dbl Crop WinWht/Soybeans; Corn; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards).
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.1 mi E; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.29 mi NW.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 70% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Hopkinsville ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 84th | 90th | 79th | 27th |
| Kentucky | 80th | 64th | 78th | 38th |
| Interior Plateau | 84th | 54th | 83rd | 35th |
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 Hopkinsville: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Pembroke 8 mi · Fairview 9 mi · Gracey 11 mi · Oak Grove 12 mi · Fort Campbell North 12 mi · Trenton 14 mi
All towns in Kentucky · National map · How the scoring works
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 Hopkinsville (36.8393, -87.4735); 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.