city in Nebraska
Honey bee forage in Scottsbluff, Nebraska
Estimated forage here is better than about 58% of sites in Nebraska. Against other Nebraska sites it stands out most in spring (98th percentile) and lowest in summer (47th). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 1.0 mi E, grown 3 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 1.4 mi E, grown 4 of the last 5 years); dry beans (nearest 1.0 mi E, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Scottsbluff?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Aug 31, peaking early May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, alfalfa)
- Fall flow: Sep 16 to Sep 30 (garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Scottsbluff, 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): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, lindens / basswood; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): alfalfa, clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, dry Beans; white, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, dry Beans; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, alfalfa, garden flowers; 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 1,952 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.2 mi NE, blooms early Jul – early Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 259 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.5 mi N, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 4 of the last 5 years)
- Dry beans: about 53 acres in a typical year, nearest 1 mi E, 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 Scottsbluff
Mostly: Northwestern Great Plains Mixedgrass Prairie; Developed, medium intensity; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards).
Nearest mapped water: open water 0.26 mi NE; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.41 mi NW.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 97% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Scottsbluff ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 69th | 63rd | 76th | 73rd |
| Nebraska | 58th | 98th | 47th | 52nd |
| High Plains | 89th | 88th | 76th | 69th |
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 Scottsbluff: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Terrytown 2 mi · Gering 3 mi · Minatare 9 mi · Mitchell 9 mi · Melbeta 10 mi · Morrill 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 Scottsbluff (41.8681, -103.662); 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.