city in Minnesota
Honey bee forage in Loretto, Minnesota
Estimated forage here is better than about 51% of sites in Minnesota. Against other Minnesota sites it stands out most in spring (71st percentile) and lowest in summer (49th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.2 mi NW, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.2 mi N, grown 3 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 0.9 mi NW).
When is the honey flow in Loretto?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Main flow: May 1 to Aug 31, peaking late Jul (soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Loretto, 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 14.
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, clovers: white, alsike and red, alfalfa, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- 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 77 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.3 mi NE, blooms late Jun – early Sep (grown 4 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 64 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.2 mi N, blooms late Jul – early Aug (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 Loretto
Mostly: Eastern Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland; North-Central Interior Maple-Basswood Forest; Open water.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.19 mi N; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.23 mi SW.
How Loretto ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 80th | 61st | 84th | 77th |
| Minnesota | 51st | 71st | 49th | 65th |
| North Central Hardwood Forests | 65th | 72nd | 55th | 52nd |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 51% 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 Loretto: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Medina 3 mi · Maple Plain 3 mi · Greenfield 4 mi · Corcoran 5 mi · Independence 5 mi · Long Lake 6 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 Loretto (45.0548, -93.6353); 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.