community in Nebraska
Honey bee forage in Inavale, Nebraska
Estimated forage here is better than about 63% of sites in Nebraska. Against other Nebraska sites it stands out most in spring (84th percentile) and lowest in fall (38th). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (right here, grown 3 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 0.3 mi SW, grown 3 of the last 5 years); soybeans (right here, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Inavale?
- First forage: Mar 16 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Jun 16 to Aug 15, peaking early Jul (soybeans, alfalfa)
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Inavale, 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 27.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), alfalfa, soybeans, dandelion; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, alfalfa, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); amber, likely to set over some months
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, alfalfa, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); extra light amber, likely to set within weeks to a few months
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 256 acres in a typical year, nearest 0 mi NE, blooms late Jun – late Jul (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 127 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.3 mi SW, blooms early Jun – late Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 94 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.7 mi S, 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 Inavale
Mostly: Central Mixedgrass Prairie Grassland; Corn; Northern & Central Plains Ruderal & Planted Grassland.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0 mi S; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.03 mi SE.
How Inavale ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 76th | 44th | 86th | 59th |
| Nebraska | 63rd | 84th | 62nd | 38th |
| Central Great Plains | 79th | 38th | 79th | 62nd |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 43% 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 Inavale: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Riverton 6 mi · Red Cloud 7 mi · Cowles 12 mi · Campbell 15 mi · Franklin 16 mi · Bladen 16 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 Inavale (40.0923, -98.6484); 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.