town in Montana
Honey bee forage in Manhattan, Montana
Estimated forage here is better than about 98% of sites in Montana. Against other Montana sites it stands out most in spring (99th percentile) and lowest in fall (83rd). Biggest nearby bee crops: alfalfa (nearest 0.4 mi N, grown 2 of the last 5 years); peas (nearest 0.6 mi E, grown 1 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.8 mi NE, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Manhattan?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, willows)
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Aug 31, peaking late May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, alfalfa)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Manhattan, 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 19.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): alfalfa, clovers: white, alsike and red, spotted and diffuse knapweed, dandelion; white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Fall honey (September to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, spotted and diffuse knapweed, alfalfa; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, alfalfa, spotted and diffuse knapweed; 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 114 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.6 mi E, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Peas: about 47 acres in a typical year, nearest 1 mi W, 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 Manhattan
Mostly: Western Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland; Inter-Mountain Basins Big Sagebrush Steppe; Northern Rocky Mountain Lower Montane-Foothill-Valley Grassland.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.11 mi E; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.71 mi S.
How Manhattan ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 83rd | 64th | 85th | 95th |
| Montana | 98th | 99th | 92nd | 83rd |
| Middle Rockies | 99th | 99th | 97th | 76th |
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 Manhattan: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Gallatin River Ranch 3 mi · Logan 5 mi · Churchill 8 mi · Amsterdam 8 mi · Belgrade 9 mi · Three Forks 11 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 Manhattan (45.8586, -111.3303); 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.