city in Minnesota
Honey bee forage in New London, Minnesota
Estimated forage here is better than about 36% of sites in Minnesota. Against other Minnesota sites it stands out most in spring (77th percentile) and lowest in summer (37th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.7 mi S, grown 1 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.6 mi S, grown 1 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 0.7 mi S, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in New London?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Jul 31, peaking late May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Aug 16 to Sep 30 (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster))
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of New London, 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): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), early trees (maple, willow, poplar); extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), soybeans; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), garden flowers; light amber, likely to set over some months
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); 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 13 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.9 mi SW, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 89 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.5 mi W, blooms late Jul – late Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 39 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.3 mi SW, blooms late Jun – early Sep (grown 5 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 New London
Mostly: Open water; Eastern Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland; North-Central Interior Dry-Mesic Oak Forest and Woodland.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.11 mi NE; open water 0.11 mi NE.
How New London ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 70th | 65th | 74th | 82nd |
| Minnesota | 36th | 77th | 37th | 73rd |
| North Central Hardwood Forests | 32nd | 78th | 26th | 69th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 55% 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 New London: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Spicer 4 mi · Regal 9 mi · Belgrade 11 mi · Kandiyohi 11 mi · Paynesville 12 mi · Willmar 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 New London (45.2969, -94.9475); 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.