city in Minnesota
Honey bee forage in Litchfield, Minnesota
Estimated forage here is better than about 57% of sites in Minnesota. Against other Minnesota sites it stands out most in spring (74th percentile) and lowest in summer (51st). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 0.7 mi SE, grown 1 of the last 5 years); soybeans (nearest 0.7 mi SE, grown 4 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Litchfield?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: May 1 to Aug 31, peaking late Jul (soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Litchfield, 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 15.
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, dandelion, garden flowers; 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): 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 2,043 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.2 mi N, blooms late Jul – late Aug (grown 4 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 1,334 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.3 mi SE, blooms early Jul – early Sep (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 Litchfield
Mostly: Corn; Soybeans; Open water.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.5 mi W; open water 0.58 mi SW.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 82% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Litchfield ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 83rd | 62nd | 85th | 82nd |
| Minnesota | 57th | 74th | 51st | 73rd |
| North Central Hardwood Forests | 78th | 74th | 62nd | 70th |
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 Litchfield: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Darwin 5 mi · Grove City 8 mi · Dassel 11 mi · Kingston 12 mi · Atwater 12 mi · Cedar Mills 12 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 Litchfield (45.122, -94.5259); 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.