city in Mississippi
Honey bee forage in Madison, Mississippi
Estimated forage here is better than about 76% of sites in Mississippi. Against other Mississippi sites it stands out most in fall (91st percentile) and lowest in summer (72nd). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 1.4 mi N, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 1.4 mi N, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Madison?
- First forage: Jan 1 (dandelion)
- Main flow: Feb 1 to May 15, peaking early Mar (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Jun 1 to Jul 15 (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Madison, 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 Mar 5.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); amber
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, summer-flowering shrubs; 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 97 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.4 mi N, blooms late Apr – late Jun (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 131 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.4 mi N, blooms early May – early Jun (grown 3 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 Madison
Mostly: Eastern Warm Temperate Pasture and Hayland; Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns); Southeastern Native Ruderal Forest.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.09 mi E; pond, lake or river 0.12 mi NW.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 81% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Madison ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 80th | 94th | 40th | 34th |
| Mississippi | 76th | 76th | 72nd | 91st |
| Mississippi Valley Loess Plains | 58th | 83rd | 51st | 86th |
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 Madison: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Ridgeland 4 mi · Gluckstadt 4 mi · Flowood 10 mi · Canton 10 mi · Flora 12 mi · Jackson 12 mi
All towns in Mississippi · 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 Madison (32.4739, -90.1309); 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.