community in South Dakota
Honey bee forage in Harrison, South Dakota
Estimated forage here is better than about 81% of sites in South Dakota. Against other South Dakota sites it stands out most in spring (86th percentile) and lowest in fall (11th). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 0.1 mi NE, grown 2 of the last 5 years); soybeans (nearest 0.1 mi NE, grown 2 of the last 5 years); sorghum (nearest 0.3 mi SW, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Harrison?
- First forage: Apr 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- 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 Harrison, 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 8.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, soybeans, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, alfalfa, clovers: white, alsike and red; white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Fall honey (September to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), spotted and diffuse knapweed; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- 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 789 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.1 mi NE, blooms early Jul – early Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 331 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.2 mi S, 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 Harrison
Mostly: Soybeans; Corn; Western Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.07 mi E; pond, lake or river 0.33 mi N.
How Harrison ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 93rd | 45th | 94th | 56th |
| South Dakota | 81st | 86th | 79th | 11th |
| Northwestern Glaciated Plains | 88th | 90th | 87th | 11th |
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 Harrison: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
New Holland 4 mi · Corsica 6 mi · Aurora Center 7 mi · Stickney 12 mi · Armour 12 mi · Geddes 15 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 Harrison (43.4311, -98.5267); 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.