community in South Dakota
Honey bee forage in Crocker, South Dakota
Estimated forage here is better than about 60% of sites in South Dakota. Against other South Dakota sites it stands out most in fall (66th percentile) and lowest in spring (38th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.2 mi NE, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.2 mi NE, grown 3 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 0.3 mi N).
When is the honey flow in Crocker?
- 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: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Crocker, 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), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, 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, clovers: white, alsike and red; white, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): soybeans, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red, alfalfa; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Whole season (March 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
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 230 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.2 mi NE, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 242 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.2 mi NE, blooms late Jul – late Aug (grown 3 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 Crocker
Mostly: Open water; Soybeans; Western Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland.
Nearest mapped water: open water 0.06 mi W; pond, lake or river 0.11 mi SW.
How Crocker ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 82nd | 31st | 89th | 90th |
| South Dakota | 60th | 38th | 60th | 66th |
| Northern Glaciated Plains | 7th | 62nd | 10th | 38th |
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 Crocker: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Bradley 6 mi · Butler 11 mi · Hillcrest Colony 13 mi · Garden City 14 mi · Wallace 14 mi · Bristol 16 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 Crocker (45.1141, -97.7708); 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.