city in South Dakota
Honey bee forage in Hecla, South Dakota
Estimated forage here is better than about 64% of sites in South Dakota. Against other South Dakota sites it stands out most in spring (95th percentile) and lowest in summer (58th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.2 mi NW, grown 3 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.2 mi NW, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Hecla?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Main flow: Jul 1 to Aug 31, peaking late Jul (soybeans)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Hecla, 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 17.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), early trees (maple, willow, poplar); light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): soybeans, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red; light amber, likely to set over some months
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); 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 397 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.4 mi SW, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 317 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.4 mi S, blooms late Jul – 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 Hecla
Mostly: Northwestern Great Plains Floodplain Herbaceous; Open water; Western Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.22 mi SW; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.22 mi NE.
How Hecla ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 86th | 57th | 88th | 90th |
| South Dakota | 64th | 95th | 58th | 67th |
| Northern Glaciated Plains | 12th | 93rd | 8th | 39th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 32% 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 Hecla: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Sunset Colony 14 mi · Claremont 16 mi · Frederick 17 mi · Newport Colony 18 mi · Westwood Colony 18 mi · Columbia 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 Hecla (45.8821, -98.1519); 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.