community in Montana
Honey bee forage in Carter, Montana
Estimated forage here is better than about 39% of sites in Montana. Against other Montana sites it stands out most in spring (76th percentile) and lowest in fall (9th). Biggest nearby bee crops: peas (nearest 0.1 mi E, grown 1 of the last 5 years); chickpeas (nearest 0.4 mi W, grown 1 of the last 5 years); mustard (nearest 1.9 mi NW, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Carter?
- First forage: Apr 1 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Main flow: May 16 to Jul 31, peaking late Jun (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), peas, chick Peas)
- Fall flow: Aug 16 to Aug 31 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Carter, 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): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), peas, dandelion; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), chick Peas, lentils, spotted and diffuse knapweed; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), spotted and diffuse knapweed, green/yellow rabbitbrush; light amber, likely to set over some months
- Whole season (March to November): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), peas, chick Peas, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); 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
- Peas: about 61 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.1 mi E, blooms late May – early Jul (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Chickpeas: about 50 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.4 mi W, blooms early Jul – early 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 Carter
Mostly: Inter-Mountain Basins Big Sagebrush Steppe; Northwestern Great Plains Mixedgrass Prairie; Winter Wheat.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.27 mi NE; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.28 mi NE.
Things to watch
- Lots of crops with little or no bee value. About 38% of the land within 3 miles is in crops bees get little from (such as wheat and other grains).
How Carter ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 28th | 32nd | 63rd | 60th |
| Montana | 39th | 76th | 46th | 9th |
| Northwestern Glaciated Plains | 17th | 68th | 24th | 15th |
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 Carter: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Floweree 6 mi · Fort Benton 13 mi · Highwood 14 mi · Twin Hills Colony 18 mi · Malmstrom AFB 22 mi · Black Eagle 23 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 Carter (47.7778, -110.9328); 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.