city in Wisconsin
Honey bee forage in Viroqua, Wisconsin
Estimated forage here is better than about 99% of sites in Wisconsin. Against other Wisconsin sites it stands out most in fall (94th percentile) and lowest in spring (65th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.6 mi N, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.7 mi NW, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Viroqua?
- First forage: Apr 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: May 1 to Aug 31, peaking late Jul (soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Viroqua, 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, black locust; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, alfalfa, dandelion; white, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, soybeans, dandelion, garden flowers; 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 606 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.8 mi SW, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 748 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.8 mi W, 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 Viroqua
Mostly: North-Central Interior Dry-Mesic Oak Forest and Woodland; Eastern Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland; Soybeans.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.17 mi NW; pond, lake or river 0.42 mi SW.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 62% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Viroqua ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 89th | 63rd | 89th | 85th |
| Wisconsin | 99th | 65th | 88th | 94th |
| Driftless Area | 96th | 82nd | 76th | 100th |
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 Viroqua: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Westby 7 mi · Readstown 10 mi · Viola 11 mi · Coon Valley 12 mi · La Farge 12 mi · Chaseburg 13 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 Viroqua (43.5606, -90.8862); 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.