city in North Dakota
Honey bee forage in Hoople, North Dakota
Estimated forage here is better than about 39% of sites in North Dakota. Against other North Dakota sites it stands out most in fall (69th percentile) and lowest in summer (37th). Biggest nearby bee crops: dry beans (nearest 0.3 mi W, grown 1 of the last 5 years); canola (nearest 0.2 mi SW, grown 1 of the last 5 years); soybeans (nearest 0.4 mi NE, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Hoople?
- First forage: Apr 16 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Jun 16 to Sep 15, peaking late Jul (canola, dry Beans, soybeans)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Hoople, 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 22.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): canola, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Summer honey (July and August): canola, dry Beans, soybeans; white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Fall honey (September to November): dry Beans, soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; water white, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): canola, dry Beans, soybeans, dandelion; white, 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
- Dry beans: about 208 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.3 mi W, blooms late Jul – late Sep (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Canola: about 38 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.6 mi NW, 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 Hoople
Mostly: Spring Wheat; Soybeans; Dry Beans.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.04 mi NE; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.13 mi N.
Things to watch
- Lots of crops with little or no bee value. About 51% of the land within 3 miles is in crops bees get little from (such as wheat and other grains).
How Hoople ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 85th | 31st | 89th | 99th |
| North Dakota | 39th | 68th | 37th | 69th |
| Lake Agassiz Plain | 23rd | 75th | 21st | 58th |
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 Hoople: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Crystal 5 mi · Nash 7 mi · Auburn 9 mi · St. Thomas 10 mi · Canton City (Hensel) 11 mi · Edinburg 11 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 Hoople (48.5358, -97.6389); 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.