city in Idaho
Honey bee forage in Dayton, Idaho
Estimated forage here is better than about 85% of sites in Idaho. Against other Idaho sites it stands out most in summer (94th percentile) and lowest in fall (54th). Biggest nearby bee crops: alfalfa (right here); dry beans (nearest 0.5 mi S, grown 1 of the last 5 years); peas (nearest 0.1 mi S, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Dayton?
- First forage: Apr 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jul 1 to Aug 31, peaking early Aug (alfalfa)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Dayton, 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 16.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): peas, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, canola; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): alfalfa, spotted and diffuse knapweed; white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Fall honey (September to November): spotted and diffuse knapweed, dry Beans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): alfalfa, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, peas; 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 3,281 acres in a typical year, nearest 0 mi , blooms early Jul – late Aug (grown 5 of the last 5 years)
- Dry beans: about 49 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.5 mi S, blooms late Jul – late Sep (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Peas: about 27 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.3 mi S, blooms late May – early Jul (grown 1 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 Dayton
Mostly: Alfalfa; Inter-Mountain Basins Montane Sagebrush Steppe; Interior Western North American Temperate Ruderal Grassland.
Nearest mapped water: open water 0.15 mi W; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.17 mi NE.
How Dayton ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 71st | 26th | 85th | 80th |
| Idaho | 85th | 55th | 94th | 54th |
| Central Basin and Range | 97th | 77th | 99th | 67th |
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 Dayton: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Weston 5 mi · Clifton 5 mi · Preston 5 mi · Oxford 10 mi · Franklin 12 mi · Malad City 15 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 Dayton (42.1112, -111.9846); 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.