community in Montana
Honey bee forage in Black Eagle, Montana
Estimated forage here is better than about 75% of sites in Montana. Against other Montana sites it stands out most in spring (97th percentile) and lowest in fall (42nd). Biggest nearby bee crops: canola (nearest 2.1 mi E, grown 1 of the last 5 years); chickpeas (nearest 1.8 mi NE, grown 1 of the last 5 years); peas (nearest 1.8 mi N, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Black Eagle?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Aug 15, peaking late May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Fall flow: Sep 1 to Sep 30 (garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Black Eagle, 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 16.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), garden flowers; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), garden flowers, dandelion; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), garden flowers; extra light 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
- Canola: about 36 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.1 mi E, blooms early May – late Jul (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Chickpeas: about 104 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.1 mi NE, blooms early Jul – early Aug (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Peas: about 50 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.1 mi NE, blooms late May – early Jul (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 1 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.3 mi W, blooms early Jul – late Aug (grown 1 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 Black Eagle
Mostly: Developed, medium intensity; Northwestern Great Plains Mixedgrass Prairie; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards).
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.27 mi NW; pond, lake or river 0.39 mi W.
How Black Eagle ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 53rd | 52nd | 67th | 81st |
| Montana | 75th | 97th | 55th | 42nd |
| Northwestern Glaciated Plains | 45th | 95th | 31st | 47th |
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 Black Eagle: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Great Falls 3 mi · Malmstrom AFB 4 mi · Gibson Flats 4 mi · Big Stone Colony 9 mi · Tracy 9 mi · Sand Coulee 10 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 Black Eagle (47.5277, -111.26); 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.