city in Wisconsin
Honey bee forage in Hartford, Wisconsin
Estimated forage here is better than about 82% of sites in Wisconsin. Against other Wisconsin sites it stands out most in fall (94th percentile) and lowest in summer (65th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.5 mi NE, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.5 mi NE, grown 3 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 0.5 mi NE, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Hartford?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion)
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Aug 31, peaking late Jul (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, soybeans)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Hartford, 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 15.
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, alfalfa, dandelion; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- 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
- Soybeans: about 657 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.1 mi SW, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 473 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.1 mi NE, blooms late Jul – 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 Hartford
Mostly: Corn; Soybeans; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards).
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.27 mi S; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.28 mi NE.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 77% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Hartford ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 82nd | 64th | 85th | 84th |
| Wisconsin | 82nd | 68th | 65th | 94th |
| Southeastern Wisconsin Till Plains | 54th | 85th | 28th | 89th |
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 Hartford: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Rubicon 4 mi · Slinger 5 mi · Allenton 7 mi · Neosho 7 mi · Richfield 9 mi · Iron Ridge 9 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 Hartford (43.3225, -88.3777); 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.