community in Montana
Honey bee forage in Inverness, Montana
Estimated forage here is better than about 55% of sites in Montana. Against other Montana sites it stands out most in summer (65th percentile) and lowest in fall (6th). Biggest nearby bee crops: lentils (nearest 0.1 mi NW, grown 1 of the last 5 years); mustard (nearest 0.3 mi SE, grown 1 of the last 5 years); peas (nearest 0.2 mi E, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Inverness?
- First forage: Apr 1 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion)
- Main flow: Jun 16 to Jul 31, peaking early Jul (lentils, mustard, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Inverness, 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 21.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), mustard, peas, dandelion; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): lentils, mustard, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red; white, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, spotted and diffuse knapweed; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Whole season (March to November): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), lentils, mustard, clovers: white, alsike and red; 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
- Lentils: about 401 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.1 mi NW, blooms late Jun – late Jul (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Mustard: about 16 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.7 mi S, blooms early Jun – late Jul (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Peas: about 27 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.2 mi E, blooms late May – 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 Inverness
Mostly: Spring Wheat; Winter Wheat; Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns).
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.5 mi W; open water 0.71 mi S.
Things to watch
- Lots of crops with little or no bee value. About 54% of the land within 3 miles is in crops bees get little from (such as wheat and other grains).
How Inverness ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 37th | 24th | 73rd | 55th |
| Montana | 55th | 48th | 65th | 6th |
| Northwestern Glaciated Plains | 30th | 43rd | 40th | 10th |
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 Inverness: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Joplin 3 mi · Rudyard 7 mi · Chester 12 mi · Hingham 13 mi · Gildford 18 mi · Eagle Creek Colony 25 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 Inverness (48.5599, -110.7101); 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.