community in North Dakota
Honey bee forage in Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota
Estimated forage here is better than about 61% of sites in North Dakota. Against other North Dakota sites it stands out most in spring (99th percentile) and lowest in summer (41st). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.7 mi W, grown 1 of the last 5 years); sunflower (nearest 1.0 mi N, grown 2 of the last 5 years); canola (nearest 1.0 mi N, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Grand Forks AFB?
- First forage: Apr 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: May 16 to Aug 31, peaking late Jul (clovers: white, alsike and red, soybeans, dandelion)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Grand Forks AFB, 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): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, soybeans, sunflower, dandelion; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, soybeans, sunflower; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, soybeans, sunflower; 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 823 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.6 mi W, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Sunflower: about 32 acres in a typical year, nearest 1 mi N, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Canola: about 26 acres in a typical year, nearest 1 mi N, 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 Grand Forks AFB
Mostly: Western Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland; Soybeans; Corn.
Nearest mapped water: open water 0.24 mi N; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.54 mi W.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 73% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Grand Forks AFB ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 93rd | 65th | 90th | 99th |
| North Dakota | 61st | 99th | 41st | 70th |
| Lake Agassiz Plain | 64th | 98th | 27th | 60th |
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 Grand Forks AFB: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Emerado 2 mi · Gilby 10 mi · Larimore 11 mi · Manvel 13 mi · Grand Forks 14 mi · Ardoch 17 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 Grand Forks AFB (47.9557, -97.3913); 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.