community in Nebraska
Honey bee forage in Harrisburg, Nebraska
Estimated forage here is better than about 42% of sites in Nebraska. Against other Nebraska sites it stands out most in spring (88th percentile) and lowest in summer (36th). Biggest nearby bee crops: millet (nearest 0.2 mi N, grown 1 of the last 5 years); sorghum (nearest 0.3 mi E, grown 1 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 1.3 mi N, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Harrisburg?
- First forage: Mar 16 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion, native wildflowers)
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Aug 31, peaking early Jul (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster))
- Fall flow: Sep 16 to Sep 30 (fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Harrisburg, 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 11.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), native wildflowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), clovers: white, alsike and red, sunflower; light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red; light amber, likely to set over some months
- Whole season (March to November): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), native wildflowers, clovers: white, alsike and red; 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
- Millet: about 42 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.5 mi W, blooms early Jul – early Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Sorghum: about 13 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.4 mi NW, blooms early Jul – early Aug (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 65 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.5 mi NW, blooms early Jul – early Aug (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 Harrisburg
Mostly: Central Mixedgrass Prairie Grassland; Northern & Central Plains Ruderal & Planted Grassland; Western Great Plains Sand Prairie.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.19 mi N; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.3 mi SW.
How Harrisburg ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 50th | 46th | 67th | 84th |
| Nebraska | 42nd | 88th | 36th | 65th |
| High Plains | 67th | 48th | 55th | 85th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 62% 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 Harrisburg: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Melbeta 19 mi · Gering 19 mi · Terrytown 21 mi · McGrew 21 mi · Minatare 21 mi · Scottsbluff 22 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 Harrisburg (41.5505, -103.7267); 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.