city in Wisconsin
Honey bee forage in Racine, Wisconsin
Estimated forage here is better than about 44% of sites in Wisconsin. Against other Wisconsin sites it stands out most in fall (90th percentile) and lowest in summer (39th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 1.5 mi NW, grown 3 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 1.5 mi NW, grown 2 of the last 5 years); dry beans (nearest 2.8 mi W, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Racine?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion)
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Jul 31, peaking late May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Aug 16 to Sep 30 (garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Racine, 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 15.
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, summer-flowering shrubs; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers; 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, lindens / basswood; 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 21 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.5 mi NW, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 15 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.5 mi NW, blooms late Jul – late 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 Racine
Mostly: Open water; Developed, medium intensity; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards).
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.3 mi W; pond, lake or river 0.36 mi N.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 92% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Racine ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 70th | 66th | 73rd | 81st |
| Wisconsin | 44th | 71st | 39th | 90th |
| Central Corn Belt Plains | 3rd | 90th | 4th | 98th |
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 Racine: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Elmwood Park 2 mi · North Bay 3 mi · Mount Pleasant 4 mi · Wind Point 4 mi · Sturtevant 5 mi · Caledonia 6 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 Racine (42.7256, -87.8142); 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.