community in Montana
Honey bee forage in Rudyard, Montana
Estimated forage here is better than about 56% of sites in Montana. Against other Montana sites it stands out most in spring (89th percentile) and lowest in fall (11th). Biggest nearby bee crops: mustard (nearest 0.4 mi NW, grown 1 of the last 5 years); peas (nearest 0.8 mi SE, grown 1 of the last 5 years); lentils (nearest 0.4 mi NW, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Rudyard?
- First forage: Apr 1 (dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: May 16 to Jul 31, peaking early Jul (mustard, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Rudyard, 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 20.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), mustard; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): mustard, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Whole season (March to November): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, mustard; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
Nectar-source estimate (plants weighted by how much bees favor them), not a pollen analysis. Full honey estimate.
Bee crops within flight range
- Mustard: about 56 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.6 mi SE, blooms early Jun – late Jul (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Peas: about 58 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.3 mi W, 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 Rudyard
Mostly: Winter Wheat; Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns); Spring Wheat.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.35 mi SE; open water 0.63 mi NE.
Things to watch
- Lots of crops with little or no bee value. About 59% of the land within 3 miles is in crops bees get little from (such as wheat and other grains).
How Rudyard ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 38th | 39th | 66th | 62nd |
| Montana | 56th | 89th | 53rd | 11th |
| Northwestern Glaciated Plains | 31st | 83rd | 29th | 17th |
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 Rudyard: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Hingham 6 mi · Inverness 7 mi · Joplin 10 mi · Gildford 11 mi · Chester 19 mi · Gildford Colony 21 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 Rudyard (48.5599, -110.5501); 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.