city in Minnesota
Honey bee forage in Elk River, Minnesota
Estimated forage here is better than about 44% of sites in Minnesota. Against other Minnesota sites it stands out most in spring (86th percentile) and lowest in summer (39th). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 1.7 mi N, grown 3 of the last 5 years); soybeans (nearest 1.4 mi N, grown 2 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 1.7 mi NE, grown 4 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Elk River?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Jul 31, peaking late May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Aug 16 to Sep 15 (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Elk River, 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, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), early trees (maple, willow, poplar); light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), garden flowers; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), garden flowers; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), garden flowers; 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
- Corn: about 390 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.2 mi E, blooms late Jul – late Aug (grown 5 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 108 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.2 mi E, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 22 acres in a typical year, nearest 2 mi NE, blooms late Jun – 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 Elk River
Mostly: Eastern Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland; North-Central Interior Dry-Mesic Oak Forest and Woodland; Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns).
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.41 mi NE; pond, lake or river 0.43 mi NE.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 59% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Elk River ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 75th | 71st | 76th | 83rd |
| Minnesota | 44th | 86th | 39th | 74th |
| North Central Hardwood Forests | 46th | 86th | 29th | 72nd |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 42% of the land here is scored with national averages for its vegetation type rather than measured plant cover, so the wild-plant part of this estimate is rougher than the crop part.
The national forage map around Elk River: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Otsego 5 mi · Nowthen 6 mi · Ramsey 7 mi · Zimmerman 8 mi · Albertville 8 mi · Big Lake 9 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 Elk River (45.3322, -93.5665); 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.