city in North Dakota
Honey bee forage in Petersburg, North Dakota
Estimated forage here is better than about 43% of sites in North Dakota. Against other North Dakota sites it stands out most in fall (95th percentile) and lowest in summer (37th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.2 mi N, grown 3 of the last 5 years); dry beans (right here, grown 3 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.2 mi N, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Petersburg?
- First forage: Apr 16 (dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jul 16 to Sep 15, peaking early Aug (soybeans, dry Beans)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Petersburg, 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): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, native wildflowers; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, dry Beans, canola, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); white, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): soybeans, dry Beans, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); white, likely to set over some months
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, dry Beans, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red; extra light amber, likely to set over some 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 1,073 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.2 mi N, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Dry beans: about 86 acres in a typical year, nearest 0 mi NE, blooms late Jul – late Sep (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 242 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.6 mi NW, blooms late Jul – late Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Canola: about 27 acres in a typical year, nearest 1 mi SW, 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 Petersburg
Mostly: Western Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland; Great Plains Prairie Pothole; Soybeans.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0 mi S; pond, lake or river 0.11 mi E.
How Petersburg ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 87th | 26th | 89th | 100th |
| North Dakota | 43rd | 57th | 37th | 95th |
| Northern Glaciated Plains | 14th | 53rd | 10th | 97th |
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 Petersburg: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Michigan City 6 mi · Niagara 6 mi · Dahlen 10 mi · Lakota 16 mi · Fordville 17 mi · Larimore 19 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 Petersburg (48.0175, -98.0006); 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.