city in Nebraska
Honey bee forage in Grand Island, Nebraska
Estimated forage here is better than about 47% of sites in Nebraska. Against other Nebraska sites it stands out most in spring (98th percentile) and lowest in summer (35th). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 1.5 mi W); soybeans (nearest 1.7 mi N, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Grand Island?
- First forage: Mar 1 (dandelion)
- Main flow: Apr 1 to Aug 15, peaking early May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers)
- Fall flow: Sep 1 to Sep 15 (garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Grand Island, 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 30.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, lindens / basswood; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, dandelion, soybeans; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, summer-flowering shrubs; 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
- Corn: about 167 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.5 mi W, blooms early Jul – early Aug (grown 5 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 146 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.7 mi N, blooms late Jun – late 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 Grand Island
Mostly: Corn; Developed, medium intensity; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards).
Nearest mapped water: open water 0.77 mi NE; pond, lake or river 0.95 mi SE.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 100% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Grand Island ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 55th | 62nd | 66th | 63rd |
| Nebraska | 47th | 98th | 35th | 43rd |
| Central Great Plains | 58th | 73rd | 52nd | 70th |
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 Grand Island: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Alda 7 mi · Phillips 8 mi · Doniphan 10 mi · St. Libory 11 mi · Chapman 13 mi · Cairo 14 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 Grand Island (40.9214, -98.3586); 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.