city in Montana
Honey bee forage in Sidney, Montana
Estimated forage here is better than about 95% of sites in Montana. Against other Montana sites it stands out most in spring (97th percentile) and lowest in fall (82nd). Biggest nearby bee crops: alfalfa (nearest 0.3 mi N, grown 3 of the last 5 years); soybeans (nearest 0.4 mi NE, grown 2 of the last 5 years); dry beans (nearest 0.4 mi NW, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Sidney?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion)
- Main flow: May 1 to Sep 15, peaking late Jul (alfalfa, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Sidney, 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): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, alfalfa; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): alfalfa, soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers; white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Fall honey (September to November): alfalfa, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers; extra light amber, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Whole season (March to November): alfalfa, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, soybeans; 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 102 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.3 mi N, blooms late Jun – early Sep (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 87 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.8 mi N, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Dry beans: about 99 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.9 mi SW, blooms late Jul – late Sep (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 170 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.9 mi SW, blooms late Jul – late Sep (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 Sidney
Mostly: Northwestern Great Plains Mixedgrass Prairie; Alfalfa; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards).
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.19 mi N; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.38 mi SW.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 67% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Sidney ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 77th | 53rd | 82nd | 95th |
| Montana | 95th | 97th | 87th | 82nd |
| Northwestern Great Plains | 93rd | 98th | 88th | 80th |
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 Sidney: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Crane 10 mi · Fairview 11 mi · Savage 20 mi · Fox Lake 22 mi · Bainville 30 mi · Culbertson 34 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 Sidney (47.7155, -104.1672); 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.