community in North Dakota
Honey bee forage in Shell Valley, North Dakota
Estimated forage here is better than about 60% of sites in North Dakota. Against other North Dakota sites it stands out most in spring (86th percentile) and lowest in summer and fall (57th). Biggest nearby bee crops: canola (right here, grown 1 of the last 5 years); soybeans (right here, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Shell Valley?
- First forage: Apr 16 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Jun 16 to Aug 15, peaking late Jul (canola)
- Fall flow: Sep 1 to Sep 15 (soybeans, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), alfalfa)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Shell Valley, 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 26.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), canola, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar); extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): canola, soybeans, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), alfalfa; white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Fall honey (September to November): soybeans, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), alfalfa; light amber, likely to set over some months
- Whole season (March to November): canola, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), soybeans, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); 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
- Canola: about 71 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.3 mi S, blooms late Jun – early Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 336 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.9 mi SE, blooms early Jul – early Sep (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 Shell Valley
Mostly: Northwestern Great Plains Aspen Forest and Parkland; Northern Tallgrass Prairie; Northern & Central Plains Ruderal & Planted Grassland.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.03 mi SE; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.16 mi E.
How Shell Valley ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 93rd | 40th | 93rd | 98th |
| North Dakota | 60th | 86th | 57th | 57th |
| Northern Glaciated Plains | 43rd | 76th | 34th | 63rd |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 52% of the land here is scored with national averages for its vegetation type rather than measured plant cover, so the wild-plant part of this estimate is rougher than the crop part.
The national forage map around Shell Valley: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Belcourt 4 mi · Green Acres 7 mi · East Dunseith 10 mi · Rolla 10 mi · Rolette 10 mi · St. John 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 Shell Valley (48.8086, -99.8271); 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.