city in Minnesota
Honey bee forage in Chaska, Minnesota
Estimated forage here is better than about 57% of sites in Minnesota. Against other Minnesota sites it stands out most in spring (94th percentile) and lowest in summer (45th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.9 mi SW, grown 4 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.9 mi SW, grown 1 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 1.1 mi NE, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Chaska?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Jul 31, peaking early May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Aug 16 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 Chaska, 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 13.
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): 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, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); 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 44 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.2 mi W, blooms late Jun – early Sep (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 58 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.2 mi W, blooms early Jul – early 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 Chaska
Mostly: Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns); Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Developed, medium intensity.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.06 mi E; pond, lake or river 0.41 mi NW.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 90% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Chaska ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 83rd | 78th | 80th | 85th |
| Minnesota | 57th | 94th | 45th | 77th |
| North Central Hardwood Forests | 78th | 94th | 44th | 77th |
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 Chaska: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Chanhassen 4 mi · Carver 4 mi · Victoria 5 mi · Shorewood 6 mi · Excelsior 6 mi · Tonka Bay 7 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 Chaska (44.8164, -93.61); 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.