city in Minnesota
Honey bee forage in Pipestone, Minnesota
Estimated forage here is better than about 83% of sites in Minnesota. Against other Minnesota sites it stands out most in fall (76th percentile) and lowest in spring (65th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.5 mi S, grown 3 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.4 mi NE).
When is the honey flow in Pipestone?
- First forage: Apr 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jul 1 to Aug 31, peaking late Jul (soybeans)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Pipestone, 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 15.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, lindens / basswood; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red; white, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers; 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 158 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.5 mi S, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 493 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.4 mi NE, blooms late Jul – late Aug (grown 5 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 Pipestone
Mostly: Corn; Soybeans; Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns).
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.4 mi NE; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.44 mi N.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 62% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Pipestone ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 92nd | 56th | 91st | 84th |
| Minnesota | 83rd | 65th | 69th | 76th |
| Western Corn Belt Plains | 48th | 87th | 20th | 99th |
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 Pipestone: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Ihlen 6 mi · Hatfield 7 mi · Trosky 8 mi · Holland 9 mi · Woodstock 11 mi · Jasper 11 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 Pipestone (43.9959, -96.3111); 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.