village in Nebraska
Honey bee forage in Hay Springs, Nebraska
Estimated forage here is better than about 65% of sites in Nebraska. Against other Nebraska sites it stands out most in spring (90th percentile) and lowest in summer (61st). Biggest nearby bee crops: sunflower (nearest 0.8 mi NE, grown 2 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 0.3 mi SW, grown 4 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.6 mi SW, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Hay Springs?
- First forage: Apr 1 (dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Main flow: Jun 16 to Aug 31, peaking late Jul (alfalfa, sunflower, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Hay Springs, 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 13.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, 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, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- 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, sunflower, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion; 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
- Sunflower: about 84 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.8 mi NE, blooms early Jul – late Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 126 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.3 mi SW, blooms late Jun – early Sep (grown 4 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 Hay Springs
Mostly: Central Mixedgrass Prairie Grassland; Northern & Central Plains Ruderal & Planted Grassland; Alfalfa.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.19 mi W; pond, lake or river 0.22 mi SW.
How Hay Springs ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 78th | 47th | 85th | 86th |
| Nebraska | 65th | 90th | 61st | 68th |
| High Plains | 95th | 53rd | 92nd | 87th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 49% 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 Hay Springs: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Rushville 12 mi · Clinton 18 mi · Chadron 19 mi · White Clay 23 mi · Gordon 26 mi · Whitney 30 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 Hay Springs (42.6833, -102.6896); 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.