community in Montana
Honey bee forage in Vida, Montana
Estimated forage here is better than about 59% of sites in Montana. Against other Montana sites it stands out most in summer (69th percentile) and lowest in fall (6th). Biggest nearby bee crops: lentils (nearest 0.1 mi E, grown 1 of the last 5 years); peas (nearest 0.1 mi E, grown 1 of the last 5 years); chickpeas (nearest 0.2 mi NW, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Vida?
- First forage: Apr 1 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion, native wildflowers)
- Main flow: Jun 1 to Jul 31, peaking early Jul (lentils, peas)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Vida, 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): peas, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), lentils, dandelion; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): lentils, chick Peas, alfalfa, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), alfalfa, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): lentils, peas, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), 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
- Lentils: about 371 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.2 mi NE, blooms late Jun – late Jul (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Peas: about 389 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.5 mi N, blooms late May – early Jul (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Chickpeas: about 78 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.2 mi NW, blooms early Jul – early Aug (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 Vida
Mostly: Northwestern Great Plains Mixedgrass Prairie; Durum Wheat; Spring Wheat.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.13 mi SE; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.22 mi SW.
Things to watch
- Lots of crops with little or no bee value. About 46% of the land within 3 miles is in crops bees get little from (such as wheat and other grains).
How Vida ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 40th | 22nd | 75th | 55th |
| Montana | 59th | 38th | 69th | 6th |
| Northwestern Glaciated Plains | 33rd | 34th | 43rd | 10th |
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 Vida: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Prairie Elk Colony 19 mi · Wolf Point 19 mi · Poplar 23 mi · Richey 24 mi · Circle 29 mi · Frazer 30 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 Vida (47.8339, -105.4925); 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.