community in South Dakota
Honey bee forage in Allen, South Dakota
Estimated forage here is better than about 48% of sites in South Dakota. Against other South Dakota sites it stands out most in spring (85th percentile) and lowest in summer (46th). Biggest nearby bee crops: sunflower (nearest 1.3 mi S, grown 1 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 0.6 mi W, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 1.4 mi S, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Allen?
- First forage: Mar 16 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion, native wildflowers)
- Main flow: May 1 to Aug 31, peaking early Aug (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), alfalfa, sunflower)
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Allen, 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 12.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), native wildflowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): alfalfa, sunflower, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), alfalfa; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), alfalfa, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), sunflower; 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
- Sunflower: about 341 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.9 mi NW, blooms early Jul – late Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 360 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.6 mi W, blooms late Jun – early Sep (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 1,465 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.4 mi S, blooms early Jul – 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 Allen
Mostly: Central Mixedgrass Prairie Grassland; Northwestern Great Plains-Black Hills Ponderosa Pine Woodland and Savanna; Northwestern Great Plains Mixedgrass Prairie.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.09 mi S; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.1 mi W.
How Allen ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 64th | 45th | 78th | 87th |
| South Dakota | 48th | 85th | 46th | 53rd |
| Northwestern Great Plains | 85th | 95th | 82nd | 37th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 70% 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 Allen: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Martin 12 mi · Batesland 14 mi · Kyle 16 mi · Porcupine 21 mi · Wounded Knee 24 mi · Wanblee 24 mi
All towns in South 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 Allen (43.2791, -101.9265); 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.