village in Nebraska

Honey bee forage in Murray, Nebraska

Estimated forage here is better than about 99% of sites in Nebraska. Against other Nebraska sites it stands out most in summer (90th percentile) and lowest in fall (21st). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 0.1 mi NE, grown 2 of the last 5 years); soybeans (nearest 0.1 mi NE, grown 4 of the last 5 years).

When is the honey flow in Murray?

  • First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
  • Main flow: Jun 16 to Aug 15, peaking early Jul (soybeans)
  • Season ends: Aug 31
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Murray, 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): soybeans, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
  • Summer honey (July and August): soybeans
  • Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
  • Whole season (March to November): soybeans, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; 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 10,772 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.1 mi NE, blooms late Jun – late Jul (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
  • Soybeans: about 5,324 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.2 mi NW, blooms early Jun – late Aug (grown 3 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 Murray

Mostly: Corn; Soybeans; Northern & Central Ruderal Meadow.

Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.17 mi NE; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.21 mi E.

How Murray ranks

Against random land inOverallSpringSummerFall
Continental US96th46th96th32nd
Nebraska99th89th90th21st
Western Corn Belt Plains94th80th60th45th

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 Murray: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.

Nearby

Beaver Lake 2 mi · Lake Waconda 6 mi · Plattsmouth 6 mi · Nehawka 7 mi · Union 7 mi · Buccaneer Bay 9 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 Murray (40.9164, -95.9275); 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.