city in Minnesota
Honey bee forage in Federal Dam, Minnesota
Estimated forage here is better than about 32% of sites in Minnesota. Against other Minnesota sites it stands out most in spring (87th percentile) and lowest in summer (29th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 1.5 mi S, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 1.6 mi S, grown 1 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 2.1 mi S, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Federal Dam?
- First forage: Mar 16 (early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Jul 15, peaking late May (early trees (maple, willow, poplar), summer-flowering trees (locust, linden), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Federal Dam, 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 22.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): early trees (maple, willow, poplar), summer-flowering trees (locust, linden), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), summer-flowering shrubs, summer-flowering trees (locust, linden), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; light amber, likely to set over some months
- Whole season (March to November): early trees (maple, willow, poplar), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), summer-flowering trees (locust, linden), summer-flowering shrubs; 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 14 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.5 mi S, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 15 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.6 mi S, blooms late Jul – late Aug (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 5 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.1 mi S, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 3 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 Federal Dam
Mostly: Boreal-Laurentian Conifer Acidic Swamp and Treed Poor Fen; Laurentian-Acadian Northern Hardwoods Forest; Laurentian-Acadian Wet Meadow.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.04 mi NW; pond, lake or river 0.51 mi SW.
How Federal Dam ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 67th | 72nd | 68th | 69th |
| Minnesota | 32nd | 87th | 29th | 53rd |
| Northern Lakes and Forests | 70th | 63rd | 66th | 91st |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 86% 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 Federal Dam: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Boy River 6 mi · Bena 7 mi · Ball Club 14 mi · Whipholt 16 mi · Longville 17 mi · Remer 19 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 Federal Dam (47.2402, -94.212); 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.