city in Nebraska
Honey bee forage in Gordon, Nebraska
Estimated forage here is better than about 65% of sites in Nebraska. Against other Nebraska sites it stands out most in spring (93rd percentile) and lowest in summer (60th). Biggest nearby bee crops: alfalfa (nearest 0.4 mi W, grown 1 of the last 5 years); sunflower (nearest 1.1 mi NE, grown 1 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.5 mi W, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Gordon?
- First forage: Apr 1 (dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: May 1 to Aug 31, peaking late Jul (alfalfa, clovers: white, alsike and red, sunflower)
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Gordon, 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 14.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), alfalfa; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): alfalfa, sunflower, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); extra light amber, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), alfalfa, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion; light amber, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Whole season (March to November): alfalfa, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, likely to set within weeks to a few months
Nectar-source estimate (plants weighted by how much bees favor them), not a pollen analysis. Full honey estimate.
Bee crops within flight range
- Alfalfa: about 320 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.6 mi SE, blooms late Jun – early Sep (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Sunflower: about 155 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.6 mi N, blooms early Jul – late Aug (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 178 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.1 mi N, blooms late Jul – early Aug (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 Gordon
Mostly: Central Mixedgrass Prairie Grassland; Alfalfa; Northern & Central Plains Ruderal & Planted Grassland.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.04 mi N; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.23 mi NW.
How Gordon ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 78th | 51st | 85th | 90th |
| Nebraska | 65th | 93rd | 60th | 78th |
| High Plains | 96th | 63rd | 92nd | 92nd |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 44% 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 Gordon: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Clinton 8 mi · Rushville 15 mi · White Clay 22 mi · Hay Springs 26 mi · Merriman 27 mi · Chadron 40 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 Gordon (42.8064, -102.204); 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.