village in Wisconsin
Honey bee forage in Ridgeland, Wisconsin
Estimated forage here is better than about 89% of sites in Wisconsin. Against other Wisconsin sites it stands out most in fall (94th percentile) and lowest in spring (33rd). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (right here, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (right here, grown 3 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 1.6 mi N, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Ridgeland?
- First forage: Apr 1 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jul 1 to Aug 31, peaking late Jul (soybeans, alfalfa)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Ridgeland, 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 18.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, alfalfa, clovers: white, alsike and red; white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Fall honey (September to November): soybeans, alfalfa, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, 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 62 acres in a typical year, nearest 0 mi SW, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 122 acres in a typical year, nearest 0 mi SW, 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 Ridgeland
Mostly: North-Central Interior Dry-Mesic Oak Forest and Woodland; Corn; North-Central Interior Dry Oak Forest and Woodland.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.22 mi W; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.27 mi SW.
How Ridgeland ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 84th | 49th | 88th | 85th |
| Wisconsin | 89th | 33rd | 83rd | 94th |
| North Central Hardwood Forests | 83rd | 46th | 79th | 76th |
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 Ridgeland: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Prairie Farm 5 mi · Dallas 6 mi · Wheeler 11 mi · Boyceville 13 mi · Barron 14 mi · Chetek 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 Ridgeland (45.1981, -91.898); 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.