village in Nebraska
Honey bee forage in Swanton, Nebraska
Estimated forage here is better than about 95% of sites in Nebraska. Against other Nebraska sites it stands out most in summer (89th percentile) and lowest in fall (20th). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 0.2 mi W, grown 2 of the last 5 years); soybeans (nearest 0.2 mi N, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Swanton?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Main flow: Jun 16 to Aug 15, peaking early Jul (soybeans)
- Season ends: Aug 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Swanton, 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 26.
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); light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; amber, likely to set over some months
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); 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 8,518 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.2 mi W, blooms late Jun – late Jul (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 2,815 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.2 mi N, blooms early Jun – early Aug (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 Swanton
Mostly: Corn; Soybeans; Central Tallgrass Prairie.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.11 mi W; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.15 mi SW.
How Swanton ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 95th | 39th | 96th | 30th |
| Nebraska | 95th | 60th | 89th | 20th |
| Central Great Plains | 99th | 27th | 97th | 30th |
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 Swanton: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Western 6 mi · Plymouth 7 mi · De Witt 8 mi · Wilber 9 mi · Daykin 12 mi · Clatonia 13 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 Swanton (40.3796, -97.0798); 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.