city in Montana
Honey bee forage in Ronan, Montana
Estimated forage here is better than about 98% of sites in Montana. Against other Montana sites it stands out most in spring (98th percentile) and lowest in fall (80th). Biggest nearby bee crops: alfalfa (nearest 0.4 mi S, grown 4 of the last 5 years); canola (nearest 0.7 mi N, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Ronan?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, willows)
- Main flow: May 1 to Aug 31, peaking early Jul (alfalfa, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Ronan, 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 18.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, canola; 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): spotted and diffuse knapweed, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, alfalfa; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): alfalfa, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, spotted and diffuse knapweed; 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 142 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.4 mi S, blooms early Jul – late Aug (grown 4 of the last 5 years)
- Canola: about 24 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.9 mi S, blooms early May – late 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 Ronan
Mostly: Western Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland; Interior Western North American Temperate Ruderal Grassland; Northern Rocky Mountain Ponderosa Pine Woodland and Savanna.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.03 mi NW; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.26 mi NE.
How Ronan ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 84th | 58th | 86th | 94th |
| Montana | 98th | 98th | 96th | 80th |
| Northern Rockies | 90th | 74th | 86th | 95th |
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 Ronan: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Kicking Horse 5 mi · Pablo 5 mi · Charlo 7 mi · Turtle Lake 10 mi · Kerr 11 mi · Polson 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 Ronan (47.5274, -114.0997); 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.