community in Minnesota
Honey bee forage in Fairhaven, Minnesota
Estimated forage here is better than about 56% of sites in Minnesota. Against other Minnesota sites it stands out most in fall (67th percentile) and lowest in spring (56th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (right here, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (right here, grown 3 of the last 5 years); sunflower (nearest 0.4 mi NW, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Fairhaven?
- First forage: Apr 1 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jul 1 to Aug 31, peaking late Jul (soybeans)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Fairhaven, 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): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, sunflower, alfalfa; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), dandelion; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); 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 293 acres in a typical year, nearest 0 mi , blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 245 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.4 mi NW, blooms late Jul – late Aug (grown 4 of the last 5 years)
- Sunflower: about 16 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.4 mi NW, 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 Fairhaven
Mostly: North-Central Interior Dry-Mesic Oak Forest and Woodland; Eastern Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland; Open water.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.34 mi S; open water 0.34 mi S.
How Fairhaven ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 82nd | 48th | 88th | 78th |
| Minnesota | 56th | 56th | 57th | 67th |
| North Central Hardwood Forests | 75th | 44th | 76th | 56th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 43% 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 Fairhaven: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
South Haven 2 mi · Kimball 5 mi · Annandale 6 mi · St. Augusta 9 mi · Clearwater 10 mi · Watkins 10 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 Fairhaven (45.324, -94.2055); 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.