community in Montana
Honey bee forage in Argenta, Montana
Estimated forage here is better than about 21% of sites in Montana. Against other Montana sites it stands out most in fall (76th percentile) and lowest in spring (11th). Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer), 0.11 mi N.
When is the honey flow in Argenta?
- First forage: Apr 16 (willows, arrowleaf balsamroot, dandelion)
- Main flow: May 16 to Sep 30, peaking early Aug (native wildflowers, spotted and diffuse knapweed, snowberry)
- Fall flow: Oct 16 to Oct 31 (green/yellow rabbitbrush, rubber rabbitbrush, spotted and diffuse knapweed)
- Season ends: Nov 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Argenta, 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 Jun 10.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): native wildflowers, arrowleaf balsamroot, willows, dandelion; amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): native wildflowers, snowberry, spotted and diffuse knapweed, green/yellow rabbitbrush; amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): spotted and diffuse knapweed, green/yellow rabbitbrush, rubber rabbitbrush, native wildflowers; amber
- Whole season (March to November): native wildflowers, spotted and diffuse knapweed, green/yellow rabbitbrush, snowberry; 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
No rated bee crops within about 3.7 miles of the town center. The forage here is wild plants, trees and gardens.
The land and water around Argenta
Mostly: Inter-Mountain Basins Montane Sagebrush Steppe; Inter-Mountain Basins Big Sagebrush Shrubland; Inter-Mountain Basins Big Sagebrush Steppe.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.11 mi N; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.12 mi N.
How Argenta ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 22nd | 8th | 55th | 93rd |
| Montana | 21st | 11th | 28th | 76th |
| Middle Rockies | 37th | 49th | 29th | 70th |
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 Argenta: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Dillon 12 mi · Maverick Mountain 16 mi · Glen 16 mi · Grant 21 mi · Jackson 27 mi · Twin Bridges 31 mi
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 Argenta (45.2787, -112.8606); 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.