community in North Dakota
Honey bee forage in Barton, North Dakota
Estimated forage here is better than about 39% of sites in North Dakota. Against other North Dakota sites it stands out most in spring (78th percentile) and lowest in summer (39th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.1 mi SE, grown 3 of the last 5 years); canola (nearest 0.6 mi NE, grown 1 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.3 mi E, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Barton?
- First forage: Apr 16 (dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jul 1 to Sep 15, peaking late Jul (soybeans, canola)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Barton, 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): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, canola; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, canola, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), alfalfa; white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Fall honey (September to November): soybeans, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), alfalfa; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, canola, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red; 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
- Soybeans: about 1,890 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.3 mi E, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Canola: about 45 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.6 mi NE, blooms late Jun – 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 Barton
Mostly: Open water; Northern & Central Plains Ruderal & Planted Grassland; Soybeans.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.13 mi NW; pond, lake or river 0.23 mi NW.
How Barton ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 85th | 35th | 89th | 97th |
| North Dakota | 39th | 78th | 39th | 53rd |
| Northern Glaciated Plains | 10th | 68th | 11th | 61st |
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 Barton: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Willow City 9 mi · Overly 12 mi · Rugby 13 mi · Towner 15 mi · Rolette 18 mi · Gardena 20 mi
All towns in North Dakota · National map · How the scoring works
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 Barton (48.5088, -100.1738); 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.