community in Nebraska
Honey bee forage in Willow Island, Nebraska
Estimated forage here is better than about 71% of sites in Nebraska. Against other Nebraska sites it stands out most in spring (93rd percentile) and lowest in fall (28th). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 0.1 mi W, grown 4 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (right here); soybeans (nearest 0.1 mi N, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Willow Island?
- First forage: Mar 16 (early trees (maple, willow, poplar), dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Main flow: Jun 16 to Aug 15, peaking early Jul (alfalfa, soybeans)
- Season ends: Sep 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Willow Island, 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 2.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): alfalfa, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), soybeans; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): alfalfa, soybeans, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red; light amber, likely to set over some months
- Whole season (March to November): alfalfa, soybeans, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); 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 7,531 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.1 mi W, blooms early Jul – early Aug (grown 4 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 57 acres in a typical year, nearest 0 mi , blooms early Jun – late Aug (grown 5 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 44 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.2 mi NW, blooms late Jun – late 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 Willow Island
Mostly: Western Great Plains Floodplain Herbaceous; Corn; Alfalfa.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.04 mi S; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.12 mi SE.
How Willow Island ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 83rd | 50th | 89th | 44th |
| Nebraska | 71st | 93rd | 68th | 28th |
| Central Great Plains | 86th | 51st | 83rd | 42nd |
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 Willow Island: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Cozad 5 mi · Gothenburg 5 mi · Farnam 15 mi · Eustis 16 mi · Brady 18 mi · Lexington 19 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 Willow Island (40.89, -100.0707); 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.