community in North Dakota
Honey bee forage in Minot AFB, North Dakota
Estimated forage here is better than about 51% of sites in North Dakota. Against other North Dakota sites it stands out most in spring (97th percentile) and lowest in summer (41st). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.9 mi SW, grown 2 of the last 5 years); canola (nearest 0.9 mi SW, grown 1 of the last 5 years); sunflower (nearest 1.3 mi S, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Minot AFB?
- First forage: Apr 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: May 16 to Aug 15, peaking late Jul (canola, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Sep 1 to Sep 15 (soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Minot 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 22.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, canola, garden flowers; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): canola, soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Fall honey (September to November): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): canola, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, soybeans; 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 1,762 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.9 mi SW, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Canola: about 435 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.3 mi W, blooms late Jun – early Aug (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 Minot AFB
Mostly: Soybeans; Spring Wheat; Northern & Central Plains Ruderal & Planted Grassland.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.25 mi NW; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.69 mi NW.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 83% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Minot AFB ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 90th | 57th | 90th | 96th |
| North Dakota | 51st | 97th | 41st | 42nd |
| Northern Glaciated Plains | 25th | 93rd | 13th | 54th |
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 Minot AFB: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Ruthville 4 mi · Glenburn 8 mi · Foxholm 11 mi · Burlington 12 mi · Minot 13 mi · Deering 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 Minot AFB (48.419, -101.3365); 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.