city in Minnesota
Honey bee forage in Ada, Minnesota
Estimated forage here is better than about 76% of sites in Minnesota. Against other Minnesota sites it stands out most in fall (89th percentile) and lowest in spring (60th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.4 mi S, grown 2 of the last 5 years); sunflower (nearest 0.9 mi N, grown 1 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.4 mi S, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Ada?
- First forage: Apr 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jul 1 to Sep 15, peaking late Jul (soybeans)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Ada, 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 19.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, lindens / basswood; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, alfalfa; white, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): soybeans, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, dry Beans; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers; 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 862 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.4 mi S, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Sunflower: about 43 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.9 mi N, blooms early Jul – early Sep (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 Ada
Mostly: Soybeans; Spring Wheat; Sugarbeets.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.28 mi S; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.39 mi SE.
How Ada ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 90th | 52nd | 90th | 97th |
| Minnesota | 76th | 60th | 63rd | 89th |
| Lake Agassiz Plain | 48th | 91st | 31st | 36th |
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 Ada: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Borup 8 mi · Twin Valley 12 mi · Gary 13 mi · Hendrum 14 mi · Halstad 15 mi · Felton 15 mi
All towns in Minnesota · 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 Ada (47.2989, -96.5165); 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.