community in Montana
Honey bee forage in Moccasin, Montana
Estimated forage here is better than about 59% of sites in Montana. Against other Montana sites it stands out most in spring (70th percentile) and lowest in fall (15th). Biggest nearby bee crops: alfalfa (nearest 0.2 mi N, grown 4 of the last 5 years); canola (nearest 0.2 mi SW, grown 1 of the last 5 years); peas (nearest 0.3 mi SE, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Moccasin?
- First forage: Apr 1 (dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Main flow: May 16 to Aug 31, peaking late Jul (alfalfa, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), canola)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Moccasin, 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 23.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), canola, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): alfalfa, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), canola, clovers: white, alsike and red; white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Fall honey (September to November): alfalfa, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): alfalfa, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), canola, dandelion; 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 484 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.2 mi N, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 4 of the last 5 years)
- Canola: about 42 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.9 mi W, blooms early May – late Jul (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Peas: about 25 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.3 mi SE, 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 Moccasin
Mostly: Alfalfa; Winter Wheat; Northern & Central Plains Ruderal & Planted Grassland.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.13 mi S; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.35 mi N.
Things to watch
- Lots of crops with little or no bee value. About 48% of the land within 3 miles is in crops bees get little from (such as wheat and other grains).
How Moccasin ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 40th | 29th | 72nd | 65th |
| Montana | 59th | 70th | 63rd | 15th |
| Northwestern Great Plains | 63rd | 53rd | 74th | 4th |
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 Moccasin: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Hobson 4 mi · Utica 11 mi · Windham 11 mi · Moore 11 mi · King Ranch Colony 13 mi · Danvers 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 Moccasin (47.0527, -109.9086); 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.