town in South Dakota
Honey bee forage in Bradley, South Dakota
Estimated forage here is better than about 66% of sites in South Dakota. Against other South Dakota sites it stands out most in fall (74th percentile) and lowest in spring (64th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.3 mi NE, grown 3 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.3 mi N, grown 2 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 1.0 mi S, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Bradley?
- 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 Bradley, 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; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); 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), clovers: white, alsike and red; 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
- Soybeans: about 2,563 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.3 mi NE, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 1,753 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.3 mi N, blooms late Jul – late Aug (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 Bradley
Mostly: Open water; Soybeans; Corn.
Nearest mapped water: open water 0.08 mi N; pond, lake or river 0.09 mi N.
How Bradley ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 87th | 36th | 90th | 91st |
| South Dakota | 66th | 64th | 65th | 74th |
| Northern Glaciated Plains | 15th | 71st | 17th | 41st |
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 Bradley: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Crocker 6 mi · Wallace 8 mi · Garden City 10 mi · Hillcrest Colony 10 mi · Butler 12 mi · Clark 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 Bradley (45.0904, -97.6419); 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.