community in Montana
Honey bee forage in Joplin, Montana
Estimated forage here is better than about 72% of sites in Montana. Against other Montana sites it stands out most in spring (87th percentile) and lowest in fall (9th). Biggest nearby bee crops: mustard (nearest 0.5 mi N, grown 1 of the last 5 years); lentils (nearest 0.2 mi S, grown 1 of the last 5 years); chickpeas (nearest 0.5 mi N, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Joplin?
- First forage: Apr 1 (dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: May 16 to Jul 31, peaking early Jul (mustard, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Joplin, 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): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, mustard, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): mustard, chick Peas, lentils, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); 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): mustard, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); 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
- Mustard: about 34 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.5 mi N, blooms early Jun – late Jul (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Lentils: about 117 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.7 mi E, blooms late Jun – late Jul (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Chickpeas: about 79 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.5 mi N, blooms early Jul – early Aug (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Peas: about 40 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.2 mi SW, 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 Joplin
Mostly: Spring Wheat; Winter Wheat; Fallow / idle cropland.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.13 mi SW; pond, lake or river 0.16 mi SW.
Things to watch
- Lots of crops with little or no bee value. About 57% of the land within 3 miles is in crops bees get little from (such as wheat and other grains).
How Joplin ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 51st | 37th | 77th | 59th |
| Montana | 72nd | 87th | 74th | 9th |
| Northwestern Glaciated Plains | 43rd | 81st | 46th | 14th |
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 Joplin: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Inverness 3 mi · Chester 9 mi · Rudyard 10 mi · Hingham 16 mi · Gildford 21 mi · Eagle Creek Colony 22 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 Joplin (48.5594, -110.7729); 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.