city in Montana
Honey bee forage in Missoula, Montana
Estimated forage here is better than about 93% of sites in Montana. Against other Montana sites it stands out most in spring (99th percentile) and lowest in fall (62nd). Biggest nearby bee crops: alfalfa (nearest 1.1 mi NW, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.4 mi NW, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Missoula?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion)
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Jul 31, peaking late May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Aug 16 to Sep 30 (garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Missoula, 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 17.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, lindens / basswood; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, dandelion, spotted and diffuse knapweed; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, spotted and diffuse knapweed; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, 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 43 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.1 mi NW, blooms early Jul – late Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 3 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.4 mi NW, blooms late Jul – late 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 Missoula
Mostly: Northern Rocky Mountain Lower Montane-Foothill-Valley Grassland; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Developed, medium intensity.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.27 mi NE; open water 0.27 mi NE.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 91% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Missoula ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 74th | 62nd | 78th | 89th |
| Montana | 93rd | 99th | 75th | 62nd |
| Middle Rockies | 96th | 99th | 90th | 58th |
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 Missoula: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Orchard Homes 3 mi · East Missoula 4 mi · Bonner-West Riverside 7 mi · Wye 7 mi · Lolo 8 mi · Piltzville 8 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 Missoula (46.8744, -114.0261); 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.