city in North Dakota
Honey bee forage in Sharon, North Dakota
Estimated forage here is better than about 76% of sites in North Dakota. Against other North Dakota sites it stands out most in fall (96th percentile) and lowest in summer (64th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.3 mi E, grown 4 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.3 mi E, grown 2 of the last 5 years); dry beans (nearest 0.8 mi N, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Sharon?
- First forage: Apr 16 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Main flow: Jul 1 to Sep 15, peaking late Jul (soybeans)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Sharon, 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 23.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red; white, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), dandelion; light amber, likely to set over some months
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); 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 15,649 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.3 mi E, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 4 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 58 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.3 mi E, blooms late Jul – late Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Dry beans: about 12 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.8 mi N, blooms late Jul – late 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 Sharon
Mostly: Soybeans; Western Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland; Spring Wheat.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.07 mi SW; pond, lake or river 0.15 mi NW.
How Sharon ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 97th | 34th | 94th | 100th |
| North Dakota | 76th | 77th | 64th | 96th |
| Northern Glaciated Plains | 77th | 68th | 47th | 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 Sharon: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Finley 7 mi · Aneta 7 mi · Cooperstown 15 mi · Jessie 16 mi · McVille 17 mi · Northwood 18 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 Sharon (47.5972, -97.8987); 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.