city in North Dakota
Honey bee forage in Velva, North Dakota
Estimated forage here is better than about 62% of sites in North Dakota. Against other North Dakota sites it stands out most in spring (98th percentile) and lowest in summer (45th). Biggest nearby bee crops: canola (nearest 0.9 mi N, grown 2 of the last 5 years); soybeans (nearest 0.5 mi E, grown 3 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 1.0 mi S, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Velva?
- First forage: Apr 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Main flow: May 16 to Aug 31, peaking late Jul (soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, canola)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Velva, 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 21.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), canola; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, canola, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); white, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September 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
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, canola; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
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 89 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.9 mi N, blooms late Jun – early Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 1,666 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.8 mi N, 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 Velva
Mostly: Northern & Central Plains Ruderal & Planted Grassland; Western Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland; Spring Wheat.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.13 mi NW; pond, lake or river 0.13 mi NW.
How Velva ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 93rd | 61st | 91st | 98th |
| North Dakota | 62nd | 98th | 45th | 59th |
| Northern Glaciated Plains | 47th | 96th | 18th | 65th |
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 Velva: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Voltaire 5 mi · Sawyer 6 mi · Bergen 11 mi · Logan 13 mi · Karlsruhe 15 mi · Granville 15 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 Velva (48.0582, -100.9329); 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.