city in Minnesota
Honey bee forage in Hutchinson, Minnesota
Estimated forage here is better than about 56% of sites in Minnesota. Against other Minnesota sites it stands out most in spring (75th percentile) and lowest in summer (51st). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 1.1 mi SW, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 1.1 mi E, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Hutchinson?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: May 1 to Aug 31, peaking late Jul (clovers: white, alsike and red, soybeans, dandelion)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Hutchinson, 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 May 14.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, lindens / basswood; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, dandelion; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, soybeans; extra 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 351 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.1 mi SW, blooms late Jun – early Sep (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 1,753 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.1 mi E, blooms late Jul – early Aug (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 Hutchinson
Mostly: Corn; Soybeans; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards).
Nearest mapped water: open water 0.33 mi SW; pond, lake or river 0.44 mi NW.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 93% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Hutchinson ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 82nd | 63rd | 85th | 80th |
| Minnesota | 56th | 75th | 51st | 70th |
| Western Corn Belt Plains | 6th | 92nd | 5th | 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 Hutchinson: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Biscay 6 mi · Cedar Mills 8 mi · Silver Lake 9 mi · Brownton 11 mi · Stewart 12 mi · Glencoe 14 mi
All towns in Minnesota · 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 Hutchinson (44.8854, -94.3769); 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.