community in Montana
Honey bee forage in Somers, Montana
Estimated forage here is better than about 90% of sites in Montana. Against other Montana sites it stands out most in spring (96th percentile) and lowest in fall (50th). Biggest nearby bee crops: canola (nearest 0.9 mi E, grown 1 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 0.7 mi E, grown 3 of the last 5 years); peas (nearest 0.6 mi NE, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Somers?
- First forage: Apr 1 (dandelion, willows, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: May 16 to Jul 31, peaking early Jul (clovers: white, alsike and red, snowberry, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Aug 16 to Sep 15 (snowberry, alfalfa, spotted and diffuse knapweed)
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Somers, 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 23.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, willows, canola; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): snowberry, clovers: white, alsike and red, alfalfa, spotted and diffuse knapweed; white, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): alfalfa, clovers: white, alsike and red, snowberry, dandelion; extra light amber, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, snowberry, dandelion, alfalfa; 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 45 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.9 mi E, blooms early May – late Jul (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 48 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.7 mi E, blooms late Jun – late Oct (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 Somers
Mostly: Northern Rocky Mountain Dry-Mesic Montane Mixed Conifer Forest; Open water; Western Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.15 mi SE; pond, lake or river 0.31 mi S.
How Somers ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 70th | 49th | 80th | 85th |
| Montana | 90th | 96th | 80th | 50th |
| Northern Rockies | 54th | 56th | 20th | 90th |
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 Somers: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Forest Hill Village 3 mi · Lakeside 4 mi · Bigfork 8 mi · Woods Bay 9 mi · Kalispell 10 mi · Evergreen 10 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 Somers (48.0824, -114.2319); 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.