city in North Dakota
Honey bee forage in Forest River, North Dakota
Estimated forage here is better than about 48% of sites in North Dakota. Against other North Dakota sites it stands out most in fall (96th percentile) and lowest in summer (42nd). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.1 mi W, grown 2 of the last 5 years); dry beans (nearest 0.1 mi W, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.1 mi SW, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Forest River?
- First forage: Apr 16 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Main flow: Jul 16 to Sep 15, peaking early Aug (soybeans, dry Beans)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Forest River, 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 21.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), early trees (maple, willow, poplar); light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, dry Beans; water white
- Fall honey (September to November): dry Beans, soybeans; water white
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, dry Beans, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; white, 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 154 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.2 mi NE, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Dry beans: about 129 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.1 mi W, blooms late Jul – late Sep (grown 2 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 Forest River
Mostly: Sugarbeets; Spring Wheat; Dry Beans.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.1 mi SW; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.29 mi NW.
Things to watch
- Lots of crops with little or no bee value. About 36% of the land within 3 miles is in crops bees get little from (such as wheat and other grains).
How Forest River ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 89th | 26th | 90th | 100th |
| North Dakota | 48th | 56th | 42nd | 96th |
| Lake Agassiz Plain | 43rd | 69th | 28th | 95th |
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 Forest River: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Ardoch 6 mi · Minto 7 mi · Inkster 9 mi · Gilby 9 mi · Conway 10 mi · Pisek 13 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 Forest River (48.2166, -97.4703); 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.