city in Minnesota
Honey bee forage in Isanti, Minnesota
Estimated forage here is better than about 55% of sites in Minnesota. Against other Minnesota sites it stands out most in spring (79th percentile) and lowest in summer (49th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.4 mi NE, grown 1 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.2 mi NE).
When is the honey flow in Isanti?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion)
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Aug 31, peaking late Jul (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, soybeans)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Isanti, 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): 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): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, soybeans, garden flowers; light amber, likely to set over some months
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, soybeans, 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 306 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.9 mi SE, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 272 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.9 mi SE, blooms late Jul – late 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 Isanti
Mostly: Eastern Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland; Corn; Northern & Central Ruderal Meadow.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.33 mi NW; open water 0.38 mi NW.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 67% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Isanti ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 82nd | 66th | 83rd | 84th |
| Minnesota | 55th | 79th | 49th | 76th |
| North Central Hardwood Forests | 73rd | 80th | 53rd | 75th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 40% 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 Isanti: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Cambridge 5 mi · Bethel 6 mi · East Bethel 10 mi · St. Francis 10 mi · Martin Lake 11 mi · Oak Grove 11 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 Isanti (45.4915, -93.2428); 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.