city in Wisconsin
Honey bee forage in Jefferson, Wisconsin
Estimated forage here is better than about 89% of sites in Wisconsin. Spring, summer and fall all rank about the same against other Wisconsin sites. Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 0.8 mi NE, grown 1 of the last 5 years); soybeans (nearest 0.7 mi NW, grown 4 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 1.1 mi E, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Jefferson?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: May 1 to Aug 31, peaking late Jul (soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Jefferson, 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 10.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, soybeans; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, alfalfa, garden flowers; white, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, alfalfa; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, alfalfa; 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 3,575 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.2 mi NW, blooms early Jul – early Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 184 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.7 mi NW, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 4 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 Jefferson
Mostly: Corn; Soybeans; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards).
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0 mi S; open water 0.02 mi N.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 78% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Jefferson ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 84th | 65th | 86th | 69th |
| Wisconsin | 89th | 70th | 75th | 66th |
| Southeastern Wisconsin Till Plains | 70th | 86th | 39th | 47th |
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 Jefferson: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Johnson Creek 6 mi · Helenville 6 mi · Fort Atkinson 6 mi · Lake Mills 7 mi · Rome 8 mi · Hebron 8 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 Jefferson (43.004, -88.8085); 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.