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Honey bee forage in Lodge Grass, Montana
Estimated forage here is better than about 90% of sites in Montana. Against other Montana sites it stands out most in spring (98th percentile) and lowest in fall (31st). Biggest nearby bee crops: alfalfa (nearest 0.3 mi W, grown 3 of the last 5 years); canola (nearest 0.2 mi NW, grown 1 of the last 5 years); safflower (nearest 1.1 mi NW, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Lodge Grass?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Aug 31, peaking early Jul (alfalfa, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Lodge Grass, 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): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), early trees (maple, willow, poplar); light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): alfalfa, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), clovers: white, alsike and red; 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), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; light amber, likely to set over some months
- Whole season (March to November): alfalfa, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); 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
- Alfalfa: about 275 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.3 mi W, blooms early Jul – late Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Canola: about 15 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.7 mi SE, blooms early Jun – late 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 Lodge Grass
Mostly: Northwestern Great Plains Mixedgrass Prairie; Alfalfa; Northwestern Great Plains Riparian Herbaceous.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.19 mi SW; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.23 mi W.
How Lodge Grass ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 70th | 57th | 78th | 75th |
| Montana | 90th | 98th | 77th | 31st |
| Northwestern Great Plains | 89th | 99th | 83rd | 13th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 46% 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 Lodge Grass: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Forty Mile Colony 2 mi · Wyola 14 mi · St. Xavier 20 mi · Crow Agency 20 mi · Busby 24 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 Lodge Grass (45.3143, -107.3678); 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.