city in South Dakota
Honey bee forage in Harrisburg, South Dakota
Estimated forage here is better than about 77% of sites in South Dakota. Against other South Dakota sites it stands out most in spring (93rd percentile) and lowest in fall (17th). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 0.3 mi SW, grown 3 of the last 5 years); soybeans (right here, grown 2 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 0.1 mi NW, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Harrisburg?
- First forage: Apr 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jul 1 to Aug 31, peaking late Jul (soybeans)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Harrisburg, 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 11.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, soybeans, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, alfalfa, clovers: white, alsike and red; white, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, alfalfa; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, alfalfa; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
Nectar-source estimate (plants weighted by how much bees favor them), not a pollen analysis. Full honey estimate.
Bee crops within flight range
- Corn: about 2,305 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.3 mi SW, blooms early Jul – early Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 1,307 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.3 mi E, blooms late Jun – 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 Harrisburg
Mostly: Corn; Soybeans; Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns).
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.09 mi NE; open water 0.44 mi W.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 51% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Harrisburg ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 91st | 54th | 92nd | 63rd |
| South Dakota | 77th | 93rd | 72nd | 17th |
| Northern Glaciated Plains | 34th | 91st | 30th | 10th |
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 Harrisburg: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Shindler 4 mi · Tea 6 mi · Sioux Falls 7 mi · Anderson 8 mi · Worthing 8 mi · Pine Lakes Addition 9 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 Harrisburg (43.4343, -96.7124); 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.