city in Nebraska
Honey bee forage in Crete, Nebraska
Estimated forage here is better than about 82% of sites in Nebraska. Against other Nebraska sites it stands out most in spring (100th percentile) and lowest in fall (40th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.7 mi S, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.7 mi S, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Crete?
- First forage: Mar 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jun 1 to Aug 15, peaking early Jul (soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Crete, 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 Apr 26.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, soybeans, black locust; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, dandelion; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, 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
- Soybeans: about 496 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.9 mi N, blooms early Jun – early Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 1,381 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.2 mi E, blooms late Jun – late Jul (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 Crete
Mostly: Corn; Soybeans; Central Tallgrass Prairie.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.11 mi E; open water 0.16 mi E.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 67% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Crete ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 89th | 80th | 88th | 61st |
| Nebraska | 82nd | 100th | 66th | 40th |
| Western Corn Belt Plains | 30th | 98th | 9th | 83rd |
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 Crete: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Kramer 5 mi · Dorchester 9 mi · Denton 10 mi · Wilber 10 mi · Martell 10 mi · Hallam 11 mi
All towns in Nebraska · 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 Crete (40.6248, -96.9525); 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.