city in South Dakota
Honey bee forage in Herreid, South Dakota
Estimated forage here is better than about 54% of sites in South Dakota. Against other South Dakota sites it stands out most in spring (74th percentile) and lowest in summer (53rd). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.3 mi N, grown 1 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.1 mi NW, grown 2 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 0.1 mi NE, grown 4 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Herreid?
- First forage: Apr 1 (dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jul 1 to Aug 31, peaking late Jul (alfalfa, soybeans)
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Herreid, 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 16.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), alfalfa; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): alfalfa, soybeans, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red; white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Fall honey (September to November): alfalfa, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), soybeans, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Whole season (March to November): alfalfa, soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; extra light amber, likely to set within weeks to a few 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 193 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.3 mi N, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 222 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.1 mi NW, blooms late Jul – late Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 238 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.9 mi S, blooms late Jun – early Sep (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 Herreid
Mostly: Northwestern Great Plains Mixedgrass Prairie; Corn; Alfalfa.
Nearest mapped water: open water 0.34 mi SW; pond, lake or river 0.57 mi W.
How Herreid ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 75th | 39th | 85th | 88th |
| South Dakota | 54th | 74th | 53rd | 57th |
| Northwestern Glaciated Plains | 65th | 84th | 63rd | 59th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 33% 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 Herreid: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Mound City 8 mi · Pollock 11 mi · Artas 13 mi · Kenel 19 mi · Eureka 22 mi · Selby 23 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 Herreid (45.8378, -100.0747); 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.