community in South Dakota
Honey bee forage in Green Grass, South Dakota
Estimated forage here is better than about 18% of sites in South Dakota. Against other South Dakota sites it stands out most in fall (78th percentile) and lowest in summer (15th). Biggest nearby bee crops: sunflower (nearest 2.7 mi SW, grown 1 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 1.2 mi S, grown 3 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 2.9 mi SW, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Green Grass?
- First forage: Mar 16 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), native wildflowers)
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Oct 15, peaking early Jul (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), native wildflowers)
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Green Grass, 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 13.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), native wildflowers; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), native wildflowers; light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); amber, likely to set over some months
- Whole season (March to November): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), native wildflowers; 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
- Sunflower: about 79 acres in a typical year, nearest 3 mi SW, blooms early Jul – late Aug (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 30 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.3 mi S, blooms late Jun – early Sep (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 90 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.9 mi SW, blooms early Jul – early Aug (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 Green Grass
Mostly: Northwestern Great Plains Mixedgrass Prairie; Northwestern Great Plains Riparian Herbaceous; Other Hay/Non Alfalfa.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.04 mi E; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.08 mi E.
How Green Grass ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 31st | 36th | 52nd | 92nd |
| South Dakota | 18th | 62nd | 15th | 78th |
| Northwestern Great Plains | 47th | 82nd | 37th | 68th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 95% of the land here is scored with national averages for its vegetation type rather than measured plant cover, so the wild-plant part of this estimate is rougher than the crop part.
The national forage map around Green Grass: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
North Eagle Butte 10 mi · Eagle Butte 12 mi · Lantry 12 mi · Dupree 17 mi · Isabel 18 mi · Whitehorse 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 Green Grass (45.1566, -101.287); 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.