community in Montana
Honey bee forage in Whitewater, Montana
Estimated forage here is better than about 47% of sites in Montana. Against other Montana sites it stands out most in spring (80th percentile) and lowest in summer (34th). Biggest nearby bee crops: alfalfa (nearest 0.1 mi N, grown 3 of the last 5 years); peas (nearest 1.6 mi NW, grown 1 of the last 5 years); millet (nearest 0.8 mi S, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Whitewater?
- First forage: Apr 1 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), native wildflowers, dandelion)
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Sep 30, peaking early Aug (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), native wildflowers)
- Fall flow: Oct 16 to Oct 31 (fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster))
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Whitewater, 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 19.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), native wildflowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), alfalfa, native wildflowers; light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), spotted and diffuse knapweed, green/yellow rabbitbrush; amber, likely to set over some months
- Whole season (March to November): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), native wildflowers, alfalfa; 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
- Alfalfa: about 22 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.1 mi N, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Peas: about 73 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.7 mi SE, 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 Whitewater
Mostly: Northwestern Great Plains Mixedgrass Prairie; Inter-Mountain Basins Big Sagebrush Steppe; Other Hay/Non Alfalfa.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.22 mi SW; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.31 mi SW.
How Whitewater ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 33rd | 33rd | 58th | 91st |
| Montana | 47th | 80th | 34th | 69th |
| Northwestern Glaciated Plains | 24th | 73rd | 15th | 66th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 61% of the land here is scored with national averages for its vegetation type rather than measured plant cover, so the wild-plant part of this estimate is rougher than the crop part.
The national forage map around Whitewater: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Loring Colony 16 mi · Sleeping Buffalo 20 mi · Saco 25 mi · East Malta Colony 29 mi · Malta 30 mi · Hinsdale 35 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 Whitewater (48.7635, -107.6302); 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.