city in Nebraska
Honey bee forage in Kearney, Nebraska
Estimated forage here is better than about 60% of sites in Nebraska. Against other Nebraska sites it stands out most in spring (99th percentile) and lowest in fall (46th). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 1.1 mi E, grown 3 of the last 5 years); soybeans (nearest 1.1 mi E, grown 2 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 1.3 mi W, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Kearney?
- First forage: Mar 1 (dandelion)
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Aug 15, peaking early Jul (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers)
- Fall flow: Sep 1 to Sep 15 (garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Kearney, 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 2.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, lindens / basswood; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, soybeans, dandelion; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, 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, garden flowers, soybeans; 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 1,511 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.1 mi E, blooms early Jul – early Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 57 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.1 mi E, blooms late 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 Kearney
Mostly: Corn; Central Mixedgrass Prairie Grassland; Developed, medium intensity.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.55 mi SE; open water 0.66 mi W.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 98% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Kearney ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 72nd | 67th | 77th | 67th |
| Nebraska | 60th | 99th | 48th | 46th |
| Central Great Plains | 76th | 80th | 66th | 76th |
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 Kearney: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Glenwood 4 mi · Riverdale 7 mi · Odessa 9 mi · Gibbon 13 mi · Amherst 14 mi · Minden 15 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 Kearney (40.7017, -99.0823); 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.