city in South Dakota
Honey bee forage in Highmore, South Dakota
Estimated forage here is better than about 66% of sites in South Dakota. Against other South Dakota sites it stands out most in spring (96th percentile) and lowest in fall (27th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.3 mi N, grown 2 of the last 5 years); sunflower (nearest 1.0 mi S, grown 1 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.6 mi SW, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Highmore?
- First forage: Apr 1 (dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Main flow: Jul 1 to Aug 31, peaking late Jul (soybeans, sunflower, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Highmore, 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), dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, sunflower, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, soybeans; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Whole season (March to November): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), soybeans, sunflower, dandelion; 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
- Soybeans: about 1,262 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.9 mi NW, blooms late Jun – early Sep (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Sunflower: about 56 acres in a typical year, nearest 1 mi S, blooms early Jul – late Aug (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 472 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.6 mi SW, blooms early Jul – early Aug (grown 2 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 Highmore
Mostly: Northern & Central Plains Ruderal & Planted Grassland; Soybeans; Corn.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.26 mi NW; pond, lake or river 0.5 mi NW.
How Highmore ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 87th | 58th | 89th | 73rd |
| South Dakota | 66th | 96th | 61st | 27th |
| Northern Glaciated Plains | 15th | 94th | 11th | 16th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 39% 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 Highmore: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Ree Heights 12 mi · Harrold 15 mi · Millerdale Colony 18 mi · Stephan 19 mi · Miller 22 mi · St. Lawrence 25 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 Highmore (44.5214, -99.4393); 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.