city in Wisconsin
Honey bee forage in Ladysmith, Wisconsin
Estimated forage here is better than about 53% of sites in Wisconsin. Against other Wisconsin sites it stands out most in fall (85th percentile) and lowest in summer (46th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.8 mi S, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.8 mi S, grown 4 of the last 5 years); clover and wildflowers (nearest 1.4 mi SE, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Ladysmith?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Jul 31, peaking late May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Fall flow: Aug 16 to Sep 15 (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, soybeans)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Ladysmith, 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 19.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), summer-flowering trees (locust, linden); light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, soybeans, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs; 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, clover/Wildflowers; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), 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 75 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.3 mi E, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 97 acres in a typical year, nearest 1 mi SE, blooms late Jul – late Aug (grown 5 of the last 5 years)
- Clover and wildflowers: about 60 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.1 mi E, blooms early May – early Oct (grown 2 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 Ladysmith
Mostly: Laurentian-Acadian Northern Hardwoods Forest; Laurentian-Acadian Alkaline Conifer-Hardwood Swamp; Corn.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.13 mi SE; open water 0.26 mi N.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 62% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Ladysmith ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 74th | 67th | 77th | 78th |
| Wisconsin | 53rd | 73rd | 46th | 85th |
| Northern Lakes and Forests | 88th | 49th | 93rd | 96th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 46% 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 Ladysmith: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Tony 5 mi · Conrath 6 mi · Bruce 9 mi · Glen Flora 10 mi · Sheldon 12 mi · Ingram 14 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 Ladysmith (45.461, -91.0976); 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.