city in North Dakota
Honey bee forage in Pembina, 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 (92nd percentile) and lowest in fall (56th). Biggest nearby bee crops: canola (nearest 0.4 mi S, grown 1 of the last 5 years); soybeans (nearest 0.5 mi SE, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Pembina?
- First forage: Apr 16 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jul 1 to Aug 15, peaking late Jul (canola, soybeans)
- Fall flow: Sep 1 to Sep 15 (soybeans)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Pembina, 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 24.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, canola, early trees (maple, willow, poplar); extra light amber, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Summer honey (July and August): canola, soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red; 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, soybeans, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; 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
- Canola: about 365 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.6 mi W, blooms late Jun – early Aug (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 915 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.6 mi NW, blooms early Jul – early Sep (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 Pembina
Mostly: Unmapped; Spring Wheat; Canola.
Nearest mapped water: open water 0.22 mi SE; pond, lake or river 0.23 mi SE.
Things to watch
- Lots of crops with little or no bee value. About 35% of the land within 3 miles is in crops bees get little from (such as wheat and other grains).
How Pembina ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 95th | 46th | 93rd | 97th |
| North Dakota | 69th | 92nd | 61st | 56th |
| Lake Agassiz Plain | 74th | 88th | 60th | 43rd |
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 Pembina: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Bathgate 12 mi · Neche 14 mi · Hamilton 14 mi · Cavalier 21 mi · St. Thomas 26 mi · Canton City (Hensel) 27 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 Pembina (48.9671, -97.2469); 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.