city in Minnesota
Honey bee forage in Nelson, Minnesota
Estimated forage here is better than about 69% of sites in Minnesota. Against other Minnesota sites it stands out most in fall (87th percentile) and lowest in spring (46th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.1 mi NW, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.2 mi SE, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Nelson?
- First forage: Apr 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: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Nelson, 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 19.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), early trees (maple, willow, poplar); extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, alfalfa, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); white, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion; 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 222 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.4 mi SW, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 251 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.2 mi SE, 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 Nelson
Mostly: Eastern Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland; Corn; Northern & Central Ruderal Meadow.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.13 mi N; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.22 mi SW.
How Nelson ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 88th | 40th | 90th | 95th |
| Minnesota | 69th | 46th | 64th | 87th |
| North Central Hardwood Forests | 93rd | 26th | 90th | 94th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 39% of the land here is scored with national averages for its vegetation type rather than measured plant cover, so the wild-plant part of this estimate is rougher than the crop part.
The national forage map around Nelson: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Alexandria 5 mi · Osakis 6 mi · Carlos 6 mi · Forada 8 mi · West Union 10 mi · Miltona 11 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 Nelson (45.8865, -95.2649); 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.