community in Mississippi
Honey bee forage in Van Vleet, Mississippi
Estimated forage here is better than about 71% of sites in Mississippi. Against other Mississippi sites it stands out most in summer (78th percentile) and lowest in fall (46th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.4 mi SE, grown 4 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.8 mi NE, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Van Vleet?
- First forage: Jan 16 (dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Mar 1 to Jun 30, peaking early May (soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Season ends: Aug 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Van Vleet, 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 18.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), garden flowers; amber
- 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 588 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.8 mi SE, blooms early May – early Jul (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 Van Vleet
Mostly: Southeastern Native Ruderal Forest; Southeastern North American Temperate Forest Plantation; Eastern Warm Temperate Pasture and Hayland.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.06 mi S; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.11 mi W.
How Van Vleet ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 77th | 94th | 52nd | 8th |
| Mississippi | 71st | 75th | 78th | 46th |
| Southeastern Plains | 84th | 91st | 80th | 39th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 79% 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 Van Vleet: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
New Houlka 8 mi · Houston 9 mi · Okolona 9 mi · Shannon 15 mi · Algoma 16 mi · Woodland 17 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 Van Vleet (33.9832, -88.8972); 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.