city in Minnesota
Honey bee forage in Johnson, Minnesota
Estimated forage here is better than about 98% of sites in Minnesota. Against other Minnesota sites it stands out most in summer (93rd percentile) and lowest in spring (26th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.1 mi N, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.1 mi S, grown 2 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 0.1 mi E, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Johnson?
- First forage: May 1 (dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jul 1 to Aug 31, peaking late Jul (soybeans)
- Season ends: Sep 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Johnson, 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 17.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red, alfalfa; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans
- Fall honey (September to November): soybeans, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
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 3,885 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.2 mi S, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 6,840 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.1 mi S, blooms late Jul – late 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 Johnson
Mostly: Corn; Soybeans.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.06 mi N; pond, lake or river 0.23 mi SE.
How Johnson ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 97th | 18th | 97th | 90th |
| Minnesota | 98th | 26th | 93rd | 82nd |
| Northern Glaciated Plains | 74th | 38th | 78th | 39th |
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 Johnson: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Chokio 6 mi · Graceville 7 mi · Clinton 10 mi · Alberta 12 mi · Dumont 12 mi · Barry 13 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 Johnson (45.5723, -96.294); 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.