city in Minnesota
Honey bee forage in Roseau, Minnesota
Estimated forage here is better than about 90% of sites in Minnesota. Against other Minnesota sites it stands out most in fall (96th percentile) and lowest in spring (60th). Biggest nearby bee crops: canola (nearest 0.5 mi NW, grown 1 of the last 5 years); sunflower (nearest 0.5 mi NW, grown 1 of the last 5 years); soybeans (nearest 0.7 mi SW, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Roseau?
- First forage: Apr 16 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jul 1 to Sep 15, peaking late Jul (soybeans, canola, sunflower)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Roseau, 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 25.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, canola, garden flowers; light amber, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, canola, sunflower, clovers: white, alsike and red; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): soybeans, sunflower, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, canola; 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
- Canola: about 160 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.5 mi NW, blooms late Jun – early Aug (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Sunflower: about 112 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.5 mi NW, blooms late Jul – early Sep (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 791 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.9 mi S, blooms early Jul – early Sep (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 Roseau
Mostly: Soybeans; Spring Wheat; Northern & Central Ruderal Meadow.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.07 mi NE; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.08 mi N.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 70% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Roseau ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 94th | 52nd | 92nd | 99th |
| Minnesota | 90th | 60th | 70th | 96th |
| Lake Agassiz Plain | 70th | 91st | 45th | 67th |
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 Roseau: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Badger 13 mi · Warroad 20 mi · Greenbush 22 mi · Strathcona 27 mi · Roosevelt 30 mi · Middle River 34 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 Roseau (48.8445, -95.7624); 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.