town in South Dakota
Honey bee forage in Astoria, South Dakota
Estimated forage here is better than about 67% of sites in South Dakota. Against other South Dakota sites it stands out most in fall (77th percentile) and lowest in spring (60th). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 0.1 mi S, grown 2 of the last 5 years); soybeans (nearest 0.1 mi SW, grown 3 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 0.2 mi N).
When is the honey flow in Astoria?
- First forage: Apr 1 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion)
- Main flow: Jul 1 to Aug 31, peaking late Jul (soybeans)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Astoria, 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 18.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, native wildflowers; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), alfalfa; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): soybeans, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), alfalfa; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; 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
- Corn: about 1,925 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.4 mi NE, blooms late Jul – late Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 619 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.4 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 Astoria
Mostly: Soybeans; Corn; Northern & Central Ruderal Meadow.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.17 mi W; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.21 mi W.
How Astoria ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 88th | 36th | 91st | 92nd |
| South Dakota | 67th | 60th | 67th | 77th |
| Northern Glaciated Plains | 17th | 70th | 20th | 43rd |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 30% 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 Astoria: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Toronto 5 mi · Brandt 8 mi · Norfeld Colony 9 mi · White 10 mi · Rolland Colony 15 mi · Clear Lake 15 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 Astoria (44.5577, -96.5465); 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.