city in Minnesota
Honey bee forage in Nowthen, Minnesota
Estimated forage here is better than about 30% of sites in Minnesota. Against other Minnesota sites it stands out most in fall (68th percentile) and lowest in summer (39th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.3 mi W, grown 2 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 0.7 mi SE, grown 3 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.7 mi W, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Nowthen?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Aug 31, peaking early Jul (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, alfalfa)
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Nowthen, 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, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): alfalfa, clovers: white, alsike and red, soybeans, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), dandelion, alfalfa; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), alfalfa; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
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 15 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.8 mi N, blooms late Jun – early Sep (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 30 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.9 mi NW, blooms late Jun – early Sep (grown 5 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 20 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.7 mi W, 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 Nowthen
Mostly: Eastern Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland; North-Central Interior Freshwater Marsh; North-Central Interior Dry-Mesic Oak Forest and Woodland.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0 mi S; pond, lake or river 0.04 mi S.
How Nowthen ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 65th | 56th | 76th | 78th |
| Minnesota | 30th | 64th | 39th | 68th |
| North Central Hardwood Forests | 22nd | 60th | 30th | 59th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 64% 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 Nowthen: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
St. Francis 4 mi · Elk River 6 mi · Ramsey 6 mi · Oak Grove 6 mi · Andover 8 mi · Anoka 9 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 Nowthen (45.3431, -93.4496); 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.