community in North Dakota
Honey bee forage in East Fairview, North Dakota
Estimated forage here is better than about 30% of sites in North Dakota. Against other North Dakota sites it stands out most in spring (81st percentile) and lowest in summer (29th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.1 mi S, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.2 mi NE, grown 2 of the last 5 years); dry beans (nearest 0.2 mi NE, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in East Fairview?
- First forage: Apr 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jul 1 to Sep 15, peaking late Jul (soybeans, alfalfa)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of East Fairview, 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 16.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, alfalfa, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, alfalfa, dry Beans, clovers: white, alsike and red; white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Fall honey (September to November): alfalfa, soybeans, dry Beans, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); extra light amber, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, alfalfa, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; extra light amber, likely to set within weeks to a few 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 413 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.6 mi S, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 253 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.7 mi N, blooms late Jul – late Sep (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Dry beans: about 27 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.2 mi NE, blooms late Jul – late Sep (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 East Fairview
Mostly: Northwestern Great Plains Mixedgrass Prairie; Soybeans; Alfalfa.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.12 mi SE; pond, lake or river 0.15 mi N.
How East Fairview ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 77th | 36th | 86th | 96th |
| North Dakota | 30th | 81st | 29th | 43rd |
| Northwestern Great Plains | 93rd | 82nd | 92nd | 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 East Fairview: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Trenton 17 mi · Alexander 18 mi · Arnegard 28 mi · Williston 29 mi · Watford City 36 mi · Springbrook 38 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 East Fairview (47.8534, -104.0359); 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.