city in North Dakota
Honey bee forage in Esmond, North Dakota
Estimated forage here is better than about 69% of sites in North Dakota. Against other North Dakota sites it stands out most in spring and fall (86th percentile) and lowest in summer (59th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.2 mi NE, grown 1 of the last 5 years); canola (nearest 0.3 mi SW, grown 1 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.2 mi NE, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Esmond?
- First forage: Apr 16 (dandelion, 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 Esmond, 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): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, canola, peas; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, canola, clovers: white, alsike and red, dry Beans; white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Fall honey (September to November): soybeans, dry Beans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; white, likely to set over some months
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, canola, dandelion; 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 1,214 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.4 mi NW, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Canola: about 32 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.4 mi E, blooms late Jun – early Aug (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 152 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.2 mi NE, blooms late Jul – late Aug (grown 3 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 Esmond
Mostly: Western Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland; Soybeans; Spring Wheat.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.13 mi S; open water 0.13 mi S.
How Esmond ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 95th | 40th | 93rd | 99th |
| North Dakota | 69th | 86th | 59th | 86th |
| Northern Glaciated Plains | 65th | 76th | 38th | 88th |
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 Esmond: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Maddock 12 mi · Selz 13 mi · Balta 16 mi · Heimdal 17 mi · Orrin 19 mi · Harvey 19 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 Esmond (48.0331, -99.7648); 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.