city in Minnesota
Honey bee forage in Plato, Minnesota
Estimated forage here is better than about 79% of sites in Minnesota. Against other Minnesota sites it stands out most in summer (76th percentile) and lowest in spring (44th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.3 mi S, grown 1 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.3 mi S, grown 4 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 0.2 mi E).
When is the honey flow in Plato?
- First forage: Apr 1 (dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jul 1 to Aug 31, peaking late Jul (soybeans, alfalfa)
- Season ends: Sep 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Plato, 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): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), alfalfa; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, alfalfa; white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Fall honey (September to November): soybeans, alfalfa, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), clovers: white, alsike and red; extra light amber, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, alfalfa, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; 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
- Soybeans: about 5,121 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.3 mi S, blooms late Jun – early Sep (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 5,861 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.3 mi S, blooms late Jul – early Aug (grown 4 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 Plato
Mostly: Soybeans; Corn; Northern & Central Ruderal Meadow.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.1 mi S; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.14 mi S.
How Plato ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 91st | 38th | 93rd | 72nd |
| Minnesota | 79th | 44th | 76th | 59th |
| Western Corn Belt Plains | 40th | 72nd | 29th | 95th |
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 Plato: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Hamburg 5 mi · Glencoe 5 mi · Norwood Young America 6 mi · Green Isle 7 mi · Lester Prairie 8 mi · New Germany 8 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 Plato (44.7724, -94.0393); 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.