city in Minnesota
Honey bee forage in Gilman, Minnesota
Estimated forage here is better than about 58% of sites in Minnesota. Against other Minnesota sites it stands out most in fall (70th percentile) and lowest in spring (45th). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (right here, grown 3 of the last 5 years); soybeans (right here, grown 1 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 0.5 mi SE).
When is the honey flow in Gilman?
- First forage: Apr 1 (dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Jul 1 to Aug 31, peaking late Jul (soybeans, alfalfa)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Gilman, 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 17.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), early trees (maple, willow, poplar); extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, alfalfa, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Fall honey (September to November): soybeans, alfalfa, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; extra light amber, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, alfalfa, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; 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 461 acres in a typical year, nearest 0 mi , blooms late Jul – late Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 322 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.3 mi W, blooms early Jul – early Sep (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 Gilman
Mostly: Eastern Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland; Corn; Soybeans.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.24 mi N; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.33 mi NW.
How Gilman ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 83rd | 39th | 89th | 80th |
| Minnesota | 58th | 45th | 60th | 70th |
| North Central Hardwood Forests | 80th | 25th | 85th | 63rd |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 31% 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 Gilman: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Foley 5 mi · Ronneby 6 mi · Foreston 12 mi · Buckman 13 mi · Sauk Rapids 14 mi · Rice 14 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 Gilman (45.7375, -93.9493); 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.