village in Wisconsin
Honey bee forage in Merton, Wisconsin
Estimated forage here is better than about 98% of sites in Wisconsin. Against other Wisconsin sites it stands out most in fall (98th percentile) and lowest in summer (68th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.4 mi SW, grown 3 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.4 mi SW, grown 2 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 1.0 mi SW).
When is the honey flow in Merton?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Aug 31, peaking late May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, soybeans)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Merton, 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 14.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, soybeans, dandelion, garden flowers; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); 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 47 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.4 mi SW, blooms late Jun – early Sep (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 46 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.4 mi SW, blooms late Jul – early Aug (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 Merton
Mostly: Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns); Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); North-Central Interior Dry-Mesic Oak Forest and Woodland.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.19 mi N; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.22 mi N.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 74% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Merton ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 88th | 82nd | 85th | 90th |
| Wisconsin | 98th | 95th | 68th | 98th |
| Southeastern Wisconsin Till Plains | 92nd | 98th | 30th | 96th |
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 Merton: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
North Lake 3 mi · Hartland 3 mi · Lisbon 3 mi · Chenequa 4 mi · Sussex 4 mi · Pewaukee 5 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 Merton (43.1437, -88.3123); 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.