city in South Dakota
Honey bee forage in Howard, South Dakota
Estimated forage here is better than about 94% of sites in South Dakota. Against other South Dakota sites it stands out most in spring (97th percentile) and lowest in fall (20th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.5 mi SW, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.5 mi SE, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Howard?
- 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 Howard, 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): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, soybeans; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red; white, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, 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; 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
- Soybeans: about 905 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.6 mi W, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 428 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.6 mi W, blooms early Jul – early 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 Howard
Mostly: Western Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland; Soybeans; Corn.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.3 mi E; pond, lake or river 0.37 mi SE.
How Howard ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 96th | 61st | 94th | 67th |
| South Dakota | 94th | 97th | 79th | 20th |
| Northern Glaciated Plains | 68th | 96th | 45th | 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 Howard: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Vilas 4 mi · Shannon Colony 5 mi · Winfred 8 mi · Roswell 9 mi · Canova 9 mi · Cloverleaf Colony 12 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 Howard (44.0117, -97.5246); 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.