city in Minnesota
Honey bee forage in Perham, Minnesota
Estimated forage here is better than about 57% of sites in Minnesota. Against other Minnesota sites it stands out most in fall (91st percentile) and lowest in summer (49th). Biggest nearby bee crops: dry beans (nearest 0.7 mi NW, grown 2 of the last 5 years); soybeans (nearest 0.7 mi NW, grown 1 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 1.1 mi SW, grown 4 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Perham?
- First forage: Apr 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Sep 15, peaking late May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, dry Beans)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Perham, 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 21.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, soybeans, dry Beans, alfalfa; white, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): dry Beans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, soybeans; white, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, dry Beans, soybeans; 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
- Dry beans: about 94 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.7 mi NW, blooms late Jul – late Sep (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 37 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.7 mi NW, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 154 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.1 mi SW, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 4 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 62 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.9 mi NE, blooms late Jul – late 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 Perham
Mostly: Open water; Eastern Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland; Northern & Central Ruderal Meadow.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.37 mi NE; pond, lake or river 0.89 mi E.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 71% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Perham ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 83rd | 60th | 84th | 97th |
| Minnesota | 57th | 70th | 49th | 91st |
| North Central Hardwood Forests | 79th | 69th | 56th | 98th |
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 Perham: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Richville 7 mi · Dent 7 mi · Frazee 11 mi · New York Mills 11 mi · Vergas 11 mi · Ottertail 12 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 Perham (46.5996, -95.5771); 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.