city in Nebraska
Honey bee forage in Hastings, Nebraska
Estimated forage here is better than about 69% of sites in Nebraska. Against other Nebraska sites it stands out most in spring (100th percentile) and lowest in fall (45th). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 0.6 mi NE); soybeans (nearest 0.7 mi NE, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Hastings?
- First forage: Mar 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Aug 15, peaking early Jul (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, soybeans)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Hastings, 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 29.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, soybeans, garden flowers; 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, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, 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, soybeans, 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
- Corn: about 4,468 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.9 mi NW, blooms early Jul – late Jul (grown 4 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 38 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.7 mi NE, blooms early Jun – late 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 Hastings
Mostly: Corn; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards).
Nearest mapped water: open water 0.22 mi S; pond, lake or river 0.44 mi E.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 93% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Hastings ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 82nd | 77th | 82nd | 66th |
| Nebraska | 69th | 100th | 56th | 45th |
| Central Great Plains | 85th | 89th | 73rd | 73rd |
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 Hastings: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Juniata 6 mi · Trumbull 8 mi · Inland 9 mi · Glenvil 10 mi · Ayr 11 mi · Prosser 12 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 Hastings (40.5963, -98.3903); 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.