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Honey bee forage in Big Sandy, Montana
Estimated forage here is better than about 81% of sites in Montana. Against other Montana sites it stands out most in spring (97th percentile) and lowest in fall (18th). Biggest nearby bee crops: alfalfa (nearest 0.4 mi SE, grown 3 of the last 5 years); mustard (nearest 0.4 mi S, grown 1 of the last 5 years); canola (nearest 1.0 mi N, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Big Sandy?
- First forage: Apr 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Main flow: May 1 to Aug 31, peaking early Jul (alfalfa, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Big Sandy, 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): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), mustard; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): alfalfa, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), mustard; white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Fall honey (September to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); light amber, likely to set over some months
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, alfalfa, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); 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
- Alfalfa: about 845 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.7 mi SE, blooms early Jul – late Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Mustard: about 10 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.4 mi S, blooms early Jun – early Jul (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Canola: about 22 acres in a typical year, nearest 1 mi N, blooms early May – late Jul (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Peas: about 10 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.6 mi S, blooms late May – early Jul (grown 2 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 Big Sandy
Mostly: Northwestern Great Plains Mixedgrass Prairie; Western Cool Temperate Wheat; Winter Wheat.
Nearest mapped water: open water 0.55 mi E; pond, lake or river 0.57 mi E.
Things to watch
- Lots of crops with little or no bee value. About 42% of the land within 3 miles is in crops bees get little from (such as wheat and other grains).
How Big Sandy ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 59th | 51st | 75th | 68th |
| Montana | 81st | 97th | 70th | 18th |
| Northwestern Glaciated Plains | 50th | 94th | 44th | 25th |
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 Big Sandy: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Rocky Boy West 10 mi · Box Elder 11 mi · Boneau 14 mi · St. Pierre 14 mi · Sangrey 15 mi · Azure 17 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 Big Sandy (48.1786, -110.1133); 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.