city in Wisconsin
Honey bee forage in Manitowoc, Wisconsin
Estimated forage here is better than about 35% of sites in Wisconsin. Against other Wisconsin sites it stands out most in fall (96th percentile) and lowest in spring (41st). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 1.4 mi N, grown 4 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 1.3 mi W, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Manitowoc?
- First forage: Apr 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: May 1 to Aug 15, peaking late May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers)
- Fall flow: Sep 1 to Sep 30 (clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, dandelion)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Manitowoc, 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 23.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, lindens / basswood; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, dandelion, soybeans; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- 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, garden flowers, soybeans; 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 58 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.4 mi N, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 4 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 32 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.3 mi W, blooms late Jul – late 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 Manitowoc
Mostly: Open water; Developed, medium intensity; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards).
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.09 mi NE; pond, lake or river 0.11 mi NE.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 83% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Manitowoc ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 66th | 53rd | 76th | 87th |
| Wisconsin | 35th | 41st | 45th | 96th |
| Southeastern Wisconsin Till Plains | 5th | 67th | 7th | 93rd |
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 Manitowoc: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Two Rivers 6 mi · Francis Creek 7 mi · Whitelaw 8 mi · Clarks Mills 9 mi · Mishicot 9 mi · Valders 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 Manitowoc (44.098, -87.6789); 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.