city in South Dakota
Honey bee forage in Gary, South Dakota
Estimated forage here is better than about 91% of sites in South Dakota. Against other South Dakota sites it stands out most in spring (99th percentile) and lowest in summer (68th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.2 mi SE, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.2 mi SE, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Gary?
- First forage: Apr 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jul 1 to Aug 31, peaking late Jul (soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Gary, 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): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; white, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, soybeans, dandelion, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, 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 286 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.8 mi E, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 250 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.7 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 Gary
Mostly: Western Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland; Soybeans; Corn.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.08 mi NW; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.09 mi NW.
How Gary ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 95th | 67th | 91st | 95th |
| South Dakota | 91st | 99th | 68th | 95th |
| Northern Glaciated Plains | 63rd | 98th | 23rd | 52nd |
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 Gary: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Clear Lake 12 mi · Altamont 12 mi · Brandt 12 mi · Revillo 16 mi · Astoria 17 mi · Toronto 18 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 Gary (44.7942, -96.4571); 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.