community in North Dakota
Honey bee forage in Churchs Ferry, North Dakota
Estimated forage here is better than about 15% of sites in North Dakota. Against other North Dakota sites it stands out most in spring (63rd percentile) and lowest in summer (17th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.2 mi N, grown 2 of the last 5 years); canola (nearest 0.7 mi NW, grown 1 of the last 5 years); dry beans (nearest 2.0 mi S, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Churchs Ferry?
- First forage: Apr 1 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion)
- Main flow: Jul 1 to Sep 15, peaking late Jul (soybeans, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Churchs Ferry, 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 24.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, native wildflowers; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), canola, clovers: white, alsike and red; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): soybeans, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), dry Beans; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; extra 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
- Soybeans: about 157 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.3 mi NE, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Canola: about 47 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.1 mi S, 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 Churchs Ferry
Mostly: Open water; Soybeans; Spring Wheat.
Nearest mapped water: open water 0 mi S; pond, lake or river 0.15 mi S.
How Churchs Ferry ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 56th | 29th | 77th | 92nd |
| North Dakota | 15th | 63rd | 17th | 21st |
| Northern Glaciated Plains | 1st | 59th | 1st | 42nd |
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 Churchs Ferry: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Brinsmade 8 mi · Leeds 11 mi · Minnewaukan 14 mi · Cando 15 mi · York 18 mi · Devils Lake 18 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 Churchs Ferry (48.2686, -99.1944); 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.