community in Montana
Honey bee forage in Camrose Colony, Montana
Estimated forage here is better than about 82% of sites in Montana. Against other Montana sites it stands out most in summer (89th percentile) and lowest in fall (12th). Biggest nearby bee crops: mustard (nearest 0.2 mi SW, grown 1 of the last 5 years); canola (nearest 0.5 mi E, grown 1 of the last 5 years); lentils (nearest 0.4 mi S, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Camrose Colony?
- First forage: Apr 16 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), canola, dandelion)
- Main flow: Jun 16 to Jul 31, peaking early Jul (mustard, canola, lentils)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Camrose Colony, 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 22.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): canola, mustard, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion; white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Summer honey (July and August): alfalfa, mustard, lentils, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Fall honey (September to November): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), alfalfa, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), clovers: white, alsike and red; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Whole season (March to November): mustard, alfalfa, canola, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); white, 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
- Mustard: about 49 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.2 mi SW, blooms late Jun – late Jul (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Canola: about 84 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.5 mi E, blooms early May – late Jul (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Lentils: about 191 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.4 mi S, blooms late Jun – late Jul (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 Camrose Colony
Mostly: Northwestern Great Plains Mixedgrass Prairie; Inter-Mountain Basins Big Sagebrush Steppe; Winter Wheat.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.09 mi E; pond, lake or river 0.1 mi E.
Things to watch
- Lots of crops with little or no bee value. About 39% of the land within 3 miles is in crops bees get little from (such as wheat and other grains).
How Camrose Colony ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 61st | 27th | 83rd | 62nd |
| Montana | 82nd | 61st | 89th | 12th |
| Northwestern Glaciated Plains | 51st | 54th | 59th | 18th |
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 Camrose Colony: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Shelby 17 mi · Conrad 18 mi · Brady 22 mi · Midway Colony 24 mi · Riverview Colony 28 mi · Valier 29 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 Camrose Colony (48.3116, -111.6118); 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.