village in Nebraska
Honey bee forage in Hayes Center, Nebraska
Estimated forage here is better than about 48% of sites in Nebraska. Against other Nebraska sites it stands out most in spring (97th percentile) and lowest in summer (37th). Biggest nearby bee crops: sorghum (nearest 0.1 mi SW, grown 3 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.2 mi N, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Hayes Center?
- First forage: Mar 16 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion)
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Aug 15, peaking early Jul (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Sep 1 to Sep 15 (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 Hayes Center, 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 1.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, native wildflowers; 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, native wildflowers; 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, dandelion; amber, likely to set over some months
- Whole season (March to November): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), dandelion, 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
- Sorghum: about 58 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.1 mi SW, blooms early Jul – early Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 54 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.2 mi N, 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 Hayes Center
Mostly: Central Mixedgrass Prairie Grassland; Winter Wheat; Corn.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.37 mi NE; open water 0.41 mi NE.
How Hayes Center ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 57th | 58th | 68th | 74th |
| Nebraska | 48th | 97th | 37th | 53rd |
| Central Great Plains | 60th | 66th | 55th | 86th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 54% 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 Hayes Center: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Palisade 12 mi · Hamlet 14 mi · Wauneta 20 mi · Culbertson 22 mi · Wellfleet 23 mi · Trenton 23 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 Hayes Center (40.511, -101.0204); 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.