community in South Dakota
Honey bee forage in Camrose Colony, South Dakota
Estimated forage here is better than about 94% of sites in South Dakota. Against other South Dakota sites it stands out most in summer (93rd percentile) and lowest in spring (9th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.1 mi SE, grown 3 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.1 mi NW, grown 3 of the last 5 years); dry beans (nearest 0.6 mi E, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Camrose Colony?
- First forage: May 1 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jul 1 to Aug 31, peaking late Jul (soybeans)
- Season ends: Sep 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Camrose Colony, 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 15.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, soybeans; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans
- Fall honey (September to November): soybeans, dry Beans, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); 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 7,300 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.1 mi SE, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 2,781 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.1 mi NW, blooms late Jul – late Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Dry beans: about 60 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.6 mi E, blooms late Jul – late Sep (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 Camrose Colony
Mostly: Soybeans; Corn; Western Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland.
Nearest mapped water: open water 0.26 mi E; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.29 mi N.
How Camrose Colony ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 96th | 12th | 97th | 84th |
| South Dakota | 94th | 9th | 93rd | 46th |
| Northern Glaciated Plains | 69th | 25th | 78th | 28th |
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 Camrose Colony: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Frankfort 6 mi · Doland 6 mi · Turton 10 mi · Glendale Colony 10 mi · Spink Colony 14 mi · Raymond 14 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 Camrose Colony (44.9343, -98.2202); 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.