city in Wisconsin
Honey bee forage in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
Estimated forage here is better than about 50% of sites in Wisconsin. Against other Wisconsin sites it stands out most in fall (78th percentile) and lowest in summer (52nd). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 0.9 mi N, grown 4 of the last 5 years); soybeans (nearest 0.5 mi NW, grown 2 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 1.0 mi N, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Beaver Dam?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: May 1 to Aug 31, peaking early Jul (clovers: white, alsike and red, soybeans, dandelion)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Beaver Dam, 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 13.
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): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, dandelion; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, soybeans; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, soybeans, 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 2,235 acres in a typical year, nearest 1 mi NE, blooms early Jul – early Aug (grown 4 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 126 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.9 mi N, blooms late Jun – 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 Beaver Dam
Mostly: Open water; Corn; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards).
Nearest mapped water: open water 0.58 mi NW; pond, lake or river 0.65 mi NW.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 81% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Beaver Dam ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 72nd | 59th | 79th | 73rd |
| Wisconsin | 50th | 55th | 52nd | 78th |
| Southeastern Wisconsin Till Plains | 9th | 77th | 13th | 59th |
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 Beaver Dam: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Burnett 6 mi · Fox Lake 7 mi · Juneau 8 mi · Horicon 10 mi · Randolph 10 mi · Lowell 10 mi
All towns in Wisconsin · 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 Beaver Dam (43.4754, -88.8279); 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.