city in Wisconsin
Honey bee forage in Kiel, Wisconsin
Estimated forage here is better than about 83% of sites in Wisconsin. Against other Wisconsin sites it stands out most in fall (92nd percentile) and lowest in spring (57th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.3 mi SE, grown 3 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.6 mi N, grown 3 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 0.6 mi N, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Kiel?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: May 1 to Aug 31, peaking late Jul (clovers: white, alsike and red, soybeans, alfalfa)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Kiel, 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 17.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), garden flowers; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, alfalfa, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Fall honey (September to November): alfalfa, clovers: white, alsike and red, soybeans, dandelion; extra light amber, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, soybeans, 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
- Soybeans: about 166 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.7 mi SE, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 355 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.7 mi SE, blooms late Jul – late Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 144 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.6 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 Kiel
Mostly: North-Central Interior and Appalachian Rich Swamp; North-Central Interior Maple-Basswood Forest; Corn.
Nearest mapped water: open water 0.17 mi S; pond, lake or river 0.23 mi SE.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 60% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Kiel ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 83rd | 60th | 86th | 83rd |
| Wisconsin | 83rd | 57th | 72nd | 92nd |
| Southeastern Wisconsin Till Plains | 57th | 78th | 34th | 86th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 30% 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 Kiel: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
New Holstein 4 mi · Elkhart Lake 6 mi · St. Nazianz 8 mi · Glenbeulah 8 mi · St. Cloud 10 mi · Greenbush 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 Kiel (43.916, -88.0265); 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.