community in Idaho
Honey bee forage in Bennington, Idaho
Estimated forage here is better than about 73% of sites in Idaho. Against other Idaho sites it stands out most in fall (96th percentile) and lowest in spring (42nd). Biggest nearby bee crops: alfalfa (right here, grown 4 of the last 5 years); peas (nearest 1.6 mi SE, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Bennington?
- First forage: Apr 16 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jul 16 to Sep 15, peaking late Jul (alfalfa)
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Bennington, 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 30.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), native wildflowers; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): alfalfa, clovers: white, alsike and red; white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Fall honey (September to November): alfalfa, spotted and diffuse knapweed, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Whole season (March to November): alfalfa, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, spotted and diffuse knapweed; white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
Nectar-source estimate (plants weighted by how much bees favor them), not a pollen analysis. Full honey estimate.
Bee crops within flight range
- Alfalfa: about 2,758 acres in a typical year, nearest 0 mi , blooms late Jul – early Sep (grown 4 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 Bennington
Mostly: Inter-Mountain Basins Montane Sagebrush Steppe; Alfalfa; Middle Rocky Mountain Montane Douglas-fir Forest and Woodland.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.26 mi SE; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.27 mi SW.
How Bennington ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 62nd | 19th | 79th | 98th |
| Idaho | 73rd | 42nd | 66th | 96th |
| Wyoming Basin | 99th | 87th | 99th | 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 Bennington: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Montpelier 4 mi · Georgetown 7 mi · Paris 11 mi · Bloomington 14 mi · St. Charles 19 mi · Soda Springs 23 mi
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 Bennington (42.3823, -111.321); 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.