city in Wisconsin
Honey bee forage in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
Estimated forage here is better than about 32% of sites in Wisconsin. Against other Wisconsin sites it stands out most in fall (95th percentile) and lowest in spring (41st). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.7 mi S, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.7 mi S, grown 2 of the last 5 years); apples (nearest 2.4 mi N).
When is the honey flow in Sturgeon Bay?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: May 1 to Aug 15, peaking late May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Sep 1 to Sep 30 (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Sturgeon Bay, 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, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), garden flowers; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, soybeans, garden flowers; 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 1.3 mi SW, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 24 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.7 mi S, 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 Sturgeon Bay
Mostly: Laurentian-Acadian Alkaline Conifer-Hardwood Swamp; Eastern Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland; Open water.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0 mi S; open water 0 mi S.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 67% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
- Bee crops nearby that are often sprayed. Apples: insecticides used on about 77% of surveyed US acres (2025). Figures are from USDA's Agricultural Chemical Use Survey, matched by crop type from the crop map. The survey counts any insecticide use in the crop year (not seed treatments) and doesn't say when; ask nearby growers about spray timing.
How Sturgeon Bay ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 64th | 53rd | 75th | 85th |
| Wisconsin | 32nd | 41st | 43rd | 95th |
| North Central Hardwood Forests | 21st | 54th | 29th | 76th |
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 Sturgeon Bay: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Little Sturgeon 10 mi · Forestville 11 mi · Algoma 15 mi · Egg Harbor 16 mi · Baileys Harbor 20 mi · Casco 22 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 Sturgeon Bay (44.8227, -87.3698); 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.