town in South Dakota
Honey bee forage in Fairfax, South Dakota
Estimated forage here is better than about 69% of sites in South Dakota. Against other South Dakota sites it stands out most in spring (84th percentile) and lowest in fall (17th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.2 mi W, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.2 mi W, grown 3 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 0.2 mi N, grown 4 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Fairfax?
- First forage: Apr 1 (dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jul 1 to Aug 31, peaking late Jul (soybeans, alfalfa)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Fairfax, 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 10.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, soybeans, alfalfa; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, alfalfa, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), alfalfa, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red; light amber, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, alfalfa, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; extra light amber, likely to set within weeks to a few 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 244 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.2 mi W, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 287 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.2 mi W, blooms early Jul – early Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 85 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.2 mi N, blooms late Jun – early Sep (grown 4 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 Fairfax
Mostly: Central Mixedgrass Prairie Grassland; Corn; Soybeans.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.12 mi SW; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.15 mi N.
How Fairfax ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 89th | 44th | 92nd | 64th |
| South Dakota | 69th | 84th | 69th | 17th |
| Northwestern Glaciated Plains | 82nd | 89th | 81st | 21st |
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 Fairfax: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Bonesteel 4 mi · St. Charles 11 mi · Herrick 16 mi · Pickstown 18 mi · Geddes 18 mi · Lake Andes 20 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 Fairfax (43.028, -98.8889); 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.