city in Minnesota
Honey bee forage in Middle River, Minnesota
Estimated forage here is better than about 77% of sites in Minnesota. Against other Minnesota sites it stands out most in fall (89th percentile) and lowest in spring (53rd). Biggest nearby bee crops: canola (right here, grown 1 of the last 5 years); soybeans (nearest 0.1 mi SE, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.4 mi NW, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Middle River?
- First forage: Apr 1 (early trees (maple, willow, poplar), dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Main flow: Jul 1 to Aug 31, peaking late Jul (soybeans, canola)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Middle River, 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): canola, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, canola, alfalfa, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Fall honey (September to November): soybeans, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), alfalfa, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, canola, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), early trees (maple, willow, poplar); extra light amber, likely to set within weeks to a few months
Nectar-source estimate (plants weighted by how much bees favor them), not a pollen analysis. Full honey estimate.
Bee crops within flight range
- Canola: about 32 acres in a typical year, nearest 0 mi SE, blooms late Jun – early Aug (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 63 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.1 mi SE, 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 Middle River
Mostly: Laurentian-Acadian Alkaline Conifer-Hardwood Swamp; 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) 0.16 mi N; pond, lake or river 0.18 mi NW.
How Middle River ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 90th | 45th | 91st | 96th |
| Minnesota | 77th | 53rd | 67th | 89th |
| Lake Agassiz Plain | 49th | 87th | 37th | 35th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 32% 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 Middle River: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Strathcona 8 mi · Newfolden 9 mi · Holt 10 mi · Strandquist 14 mi · Greenbush 18 mi · Viking 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 Middle River (48.4348, -96.1617); 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.