community in Nebraska
Honey bee forage in Preston, Nebraska
Estimated forage here is better than about 99% of sites in Nebraska. Against other Nebraska sites it stands out most in summer (95th percentile) and lowest in fall (7th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.1 mi N, grown 3 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.1 mi W, grown 3 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 0.9 mi E, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Preston?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Main flow: Jun 16 to Aug 15, peaking early Jul (soybeans)
- Season ends: Aug 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Preston, 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 22.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans
- Fall honey (September to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; 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
- Soybeans: about 5,173 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.1 mi N, blooms early Jun – early Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 6,755 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.1 mi W, blooms late Jun – late Jul (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 Preston
Mostly: Soybeans; Corn; Western Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.13 mi N; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.3 mi S.
How Preston ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 96th | 33rd | 98th | 12th |
| Nebraska | 99th | 37th | 95th | 7th |
| Western Corn Belt Plains | 93rd | 66th | 77th | 16th |
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 Preston: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Falls City 5 mi · Rulo 5 mi · Salem 12 mi · Verdon 13 mi · Barada 13 mi · Shubert 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 Preston (40.0346, -95.5181); 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.