community in Montana
Honey bee forage in Luther, Montana
Estimated forage here is better than about 93% of sites in Montana. Against other Montana sites it stands out most in spring (97th percentile) and lowest in summer (79th). Biggest nearby bee crops: alfalfa (nearest 1.6 mi NW, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Luther?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Sep 15, peaking late Jul (clovers: white, alsike and red, spotted and diffuse knapweed, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Oct 1 to Oct 15 (fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), clovers: white, alsike and red, spotted and diffuse knapweed)
- Season ends: Nov 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Luther, 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): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), native wildflowers; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): spotted and diffuse knapweed, clovers: white, alsike and red, snowberry, native wildflowers; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): spotted and diffuse knapweed, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); light amber, likely to set over some months
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, spotted and diffuse knapweed, dandelion, 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
- Alfalfa: about 12 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.6 mi NW, blooms early Jul – early Sep (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 Luther
Mostly: Northwestern Great Plains Mixedgrass Prairie; Northern Rocky Mountain Lower Montane-Foothill-Valley Grassland; Interior Western North American Temperate Ruderal Grassland.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.17 mi NW; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.17 mi NW.
How Luther ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 74th | 51st | 79th | 97th |
| Montana | 93rd | 97th | 79th | 91st |
| Northwestern Great Plains | 91st | 98th | 84th | 94th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 47% 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 Luther: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Roscoe 6 mi · Fox 10 mi · Red Lodge 10 mi · Roberts 12 mi · Fishtail 12 mi · Bearcreek 15 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 Luther (45.285, -109.4161); 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.