city in Nebraska
Honey bee forage in Minatare, Nebraska
Estimated forage here is better than about 68% of sites in Nebraska. Against other Nebraska sites it stands out most in spring (97th percentile) and lowest in fall (44th). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 0.4 mi S); alfalfa (nearest 0.3 mi S, grown 3 of the last 5 years); dry beans (nearest 1.3 mi N, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Minatare?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Main flow: Jun 16 to Aug 31, peaking late Jul (alfalfa, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Minatare, 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 7.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), alfalfa, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): alfalfa, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dry Beans; white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Fall honey (September to November): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), dry Beans, clovers: white, alsike and red; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Whole season (March to November): alfalfa, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; 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 4,770 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.5 mi N, blooms early Jul – early Aug (grown 5 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 482 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.8 mi S, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 5 of the last 5 years)
- Dry beans: about 379 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.3 mi N, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 1 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 Minatare
Mostly: Northern & Central Plains Ruderal & Planted Grassland; Corn; Alfalfa.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.18 mi E; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.29 mi NE.
How Minatare ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 81st | 57th | 86th | 65th |
| Nebraska | 68th | 97th | 63rd | 44th |
| High Plains | 97th | 79th | 94th | 58th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 33% 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 Minatare: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Melbeta 2 mi · McGrew 6 mi · Gering 8 mi · Terrytown 9 mi · Scottsbluff 9 mi · Bayard 10 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 Minatare (41.8116, -103.5009); 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.