city in Montana
Honey bee forage in Polson, 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 (34th). Biggest nearby bee crops: canola (nearest 1.2 mi S, grown 1 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 1.3 mi E); peas (nearest 1.4 mi S, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Polson?
- First forage: Apr 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: May 1 to Jul 31, peaking late May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, snowberry)
- Fall flow: Aug 16 to Sep 15 (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, spotted and diffuse knapweed)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Polson, 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 16.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, snowberry, garden flowers; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, snowberry, alfalfa, dandelion; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, spotted and diffuse knapweed, garden flowers; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, snowberry, 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
- Canola: about 126 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.8 mi E, blooms early May – late Jul (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 40 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.4 mi E, blooms early Jul – late Aug (grown 3 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 Polson
Mostly: Open water; Western Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland; Northern Rocky Mountain Montane-Foothill Deciduous Shrubland.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.02 mi S; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.06 mi W.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 52% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Polson ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 74th | 63rd | 79th | 77th |
| Montana | 93rd | 99th | 78th | 34th |
| Northern Rockies | 67th | 86th | 15th | 85th |
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 Polson: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Kerr 2 mi · Turtle Lake 3 mi · Jette 3 mi · Rocky Point 4 mi · Finley Point 5 mi · Kings Point 5 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 Polson (47.6891, -114.1424); 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.