community in Wisconsin
Honey bee forage in Browns Lake, Wisconsin
Estimated forage here is better than about 45% of sites in Wisconsin. Against other Wisconsin sites it stands out most in fall (76th percentile) and lowest in summer (50th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.6 mi NW, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.5 mi NE, grown 2 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 0.8 mi NE).
When is the honey flow in Browns Lake?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- 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 Browns Lake, 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, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), early trees (maple, willow, poplar); light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), garden flowers; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, soybeans, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); 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 1,590 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.1 mi SE, blooms late Jun – early Sep (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 1,800 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.4 mi SE, blooms early Jul – early Aug (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 Browns Lake
Mostly: Corn; Soybeans; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards).
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.03 mi NW; open water 0.04 mi W.
How Browns Lake ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 70th | 58th | 79th | 73rd |
| Wisconsin | 45th | 52nd | 50th | 76th |
| Southeastern Wisconsin Till Plains | 7th | 75th | 11th | 57th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 34% of the land here is scored with national averages for its vegetation type rather than measured plant cover, so the wild-plant part of this estimate is rougher than the crop part.
The national forage map around Browns Lake: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Burlington 2 mi · Rochester 3 mi · Bohners Lake 5 mi · Waterford 5 mi · Eagle Lake 6 mi · Lyons 7 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 Browns Lake (42.6895, -88.2377); 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.