town in South Dakota

Honey bee forage in Corona, 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 (88th percentile) and lowest in spring (37th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (right here, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (right here, grown 3 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 0.3 mi E, grown 2 of the last 5 years).

When is the honey flow in Corona?

  • First forage: Apr 16 (dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red)
  • Main flow: Jul 1 to Aug 31, peaking late Jul (soybeans)
  • Season ends: Sep 15
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Corona, 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 17.

What the honey is made of

  • Spring honey (March to June): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, alfalfa; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
  • Summer honey (July and August): soybeans
  • Fall honey (September to November): soybeans, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; 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 3,199 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.2 mi SW, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
  • Corn: about 527 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.3 mi E, 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 Corona

Mostly: Corn; Soybeans; Western Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland.

Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0 mi S; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.06 mi W.

How Corona ranks

Against random land inOverallSpringSummerFall
Continental US96th31st96th93rd
South Dakota94th37th88th82nd
Northern Glaciated Plains70th62nd67th44th

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 Corona: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.

Nearby

Wilmot 7 mi · Twin Brooks 9 mi · Marvin 9 mi · Milbank 10 mi · Summit 13 mi · Big Stone City 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 Corona (45.3352, -96.7646); 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.