city in Minnesota
Honey bee forage in Lake Bronson, Minnesota
Estimated forage here is better than about 90% of sites in Minnesota. Against other Minnesota sites it stands out most in fall (93rd percentile) and lowest in summer (64th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.3 mi NW, grown 1 of the last 5 years); canola (nearest 0.5 mi N, grown 1 of the last 5 years); sunflower (nearest 0.8 mi SW, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Lake Bronson?
- First forage: Apr 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: May 16 to Aug 31, peaking late Jul (clovers: white, alsike and red, soybeans, canola)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Lake Bronson, 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 23.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), canola; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, canola, dandelion; white, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, spotted and diffuse knapweed; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, soybeans, dandelion, canola; 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 155 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.6 mi S, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Canola: about 46 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.8 mi SW, blooms late Jun – early 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 Lake Bronson
Mostly: Western Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland; Eastern Great Plains Tallgrass Aspen Forest and Woodland; Northern & Central Ruderal Meadow.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.06 mi W; open water 0.06 mi W.
How Lake Bronson ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 94th | 65th | 90th | 98th |
| Minnesota | 90th | 78th | 64th | 93rd |
| Lake Agassiz Plain | 69th | 98th | 32nd | 55th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
The national forage map around Lake Bronson: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Halma 6 mi · Lancaster 11 mi · Karlstad 13 mi · Kennedy 13 mi · Hallock 13 mi · Donaldson 15 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 Lake Bronson (48.7324, -96.6649); 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.