city in North Dakota
Honey bee forage in Tioga, North Dakota
Estimated forage here is better than about 46% of sites in North Dakota. Against other North Dakota sites it stands out most in spring (93rd percentile) and lowest in fall (24th). Biggest nearby bee crops: sunflower (nearest 1.0 mi S, grown 1 of the last 5 years); canola (nearest 0.5 mi S, grown 1 of the last 5 years); peas (nearest 0.5 mi S, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Tioga?
- First forage: Apr 16 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Main flow: Jun 1 to Aug 15, peaking late Jul (canola, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Tioga, 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 25.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, canola, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): canola, sunflower, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Fall honey (September to November): sunflower, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): canola, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, sunflower; 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
- Sunflower: about 248 acres in a typical year, nearest 1 mi S, blooms late Jul – early Sep (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Canola: about 85 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.7 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 Tioga
Mostly: Northwestern Great Plains Mixedgrass Prairie; Durum Wheat; Northern & Central Plains Ruderal & Planted Grassland.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.33 mi E; open water 0.42 mi SW.
Things to watch
- Lots of crops with little or no bee value. About 36% of the land within 3 miles is in crops bees get little from (such as wheat and other grains).
- Heavily developed. About 55% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Tioga ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 88th | 47th | 90th | 93rd |
| North Dakota | 46th | 93rd | 42nd | 24th |
| Northwestern Glaciated Plains | 81st | 92nd | 77th | 72nd |
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 Tioga: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
White Earth 8 mi · Ray 11 mi · McGregor 14 mi · Powers Lake 18 mi · Ross 19 mi · Wildrose 20 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 Tioga (48.3946, -102.9435); 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.