community in Montana
Honey bee forage in Pondera Colony, Montana
Estimated forage here is better than about 95% of sites in Montana. Against other Montana sites it stands out most in fall (99th percentile) and lowest in spring (57th). Biggest nearby bee crops: canola (nearest 0.2 mi NE, grown 1 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (right here, grown 4 of the last 5 years); peas (nearest 0.2 mi NW, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Pondera Colony?
- First forage: Apr 16 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion, canola)
- Main flow: Jun 1 to Sep 15, peaking early Jul (alfalfa, canola)
- Fall flow: Oct 1 to Oct 31 (alfalfa)
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Pondera Colony, 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 26.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): canola, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), peas, dandelion; white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Summer honey (July and August): alfalfa, canola, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), lentils; white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Fall honey (September to November): alfalfa, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Whole season (March to November): alfalfa, canola, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), peas; white, 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
- Canola: about 36 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.2 mi NE, blooms early May – late Jul (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 163 acres in a typical year, nearest 0 mi E, blooms early Jul – late Oct (grown 4 of the last 5 years)
- Peas: about 40 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.2 mi NW, blooms early Jun – 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 Pondera Colony
Mostly: Northwestern Great Plains Mixedgrass Prairie; Barley; Alfalfa.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.02 mi N; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.06 mi SW.
Things to watch
- Lots of crops with little or no bee value. About 40% of the land within 3 miles is in crops bees get little from (such as wheat and other grains).
How Pondera Colony ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 76th | 26th | 83rd | 100th |
| Montana | 95th | 57th | 88th | 99th |
| Northwestern Glaciated Plains | 66th | 50th | 59th | 98th |
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 Pondera Colony: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Birch Creek Colony 2 mi · Dupuyer 5 mi · Kingsbury Colony 5 mi · New Miami Colony 7 mi · Valier 9 mi · Rockport Colony 12 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 Pondera Colony (48.2399, -112.4181); 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.