community in Montana
Honey bee forage in Forty Mile Colony, Montana
Estimated forage here is better than about 78% of sites in Montana. Against other Montana sites it stands out most in summer (79th percentile) and lowest in fall (28th). Biggest nearby bee crops: canola (nearest 0.1 mi SW, grown 1 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (right here, grown 3 of the last 5 years); safflower (nearest 1.1 mi NW, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Forty Mile Colony?
- First forage: Apr 1 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion, native wildflowers)
- Main flow: Jun 16 to Aug 31, peaking early Jul (alfalfa, canola)
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Forty Mile 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 14.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), canola, native wildflowers, dandelion; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): alfalfa, canola, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); amber, likely to set over some months
- Whole season (March to November): alfalfa, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), canola, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); extra light amber, 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
- Canola: about 28 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.1 mi SW, blooms early Jun – late Jul (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 226 acres in a typical year, nearest 0 mi NW, blooms early Jul – late Aug (grown 3 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 Forty Mile Colony
Mostly: Northwestern Great Plains Mixedgrass Prairie; Northwestern Great Plains Riparian Herbaceous; Alfalfa.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.06 mi NW; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.07 mi SE.
How Forty Mile Colony ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 57th | 31st | 79th | 73rd |
| Montana | 78th | 73rd | 79th | 28th |
| Northwestern Great Plains | 80th | 58th | 85th | 10th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 51% of the land here is scored with national averages for its vegetation type rather than measured plant cover, so the wild-plant part of this estimate is rougher than the crop part.
The national forage map around Forty Mile Colony: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Lodge Grass 2 mi · Wyola 12 mi · St. Xavier 22 mi · Crow Agency 23 mi · Busby 25 mi · Fort Smith 28 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 Forty Mile Colony (45.2828, -107.3568); 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.