city in Montana
Honey bee forage in Havre, Montana
Estimated forage here is better than about 91% of sites in Montana. Against other Montana sites it stands out most in spring (99th percentile) and lowest in fall (52nd). Biggest nearby bee crops: alfalfa (nearest 0.5 mi SW); peas (nearest 1.8 mi E, grown 2 of the last 5 years); mustard (nearest 1.6 mi W, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Havre?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion)
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Aug 31, peaking late May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, alfalfa)
- Fall flow: Sep 16 to Sep 30 (dandelion, garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Havre, 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, garden flowers, lindens / basswood; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): alfalfa, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): dandelion, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, alfalfa, garden flowers; 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 57 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.1 mi E, blooms early Jul – late Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Peas: about 50 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.8 mi E, blooms late May – early Jul (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Mustard: about 46 acres in a typical year, nearest 2 mi E, blooms early Jun – early 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 Havre
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) 0.03 mi SW; open water 0.34 mi N.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 75% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Havre ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 70th | 62nd | 76th | 85th |
| Montana | 91st | 99th | 71st | 52nd |
| Northwestern Glaciated Plains | 59th | 98th | 44th | 55th |
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 Havre: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Havre North 2 mi · Saddle Butte 2 mi · West Havre 2 mi · Herron 4 mi · Beaver Creek 6 mi · Laredo 12 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 Havre (48.5419, -109.678); 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.