community in South Dakota
Honey bee forage in Huron Colony, South Dakota
Estimated forage here is better than about 74% of sites in South Dakota. Against other South Dakota sites it stands out most in summer (80th percentile) and lowest in fall (16th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.1 mi SE, grown 1 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.1 mi N, grown 3 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 0.1 mi N, grown 4 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Huron Colony?
- First forage: Apr 1 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion)
- Main flow: Jul 1 to Aug 31, peaking late Jul (soybeans)
- Season ends: Sep 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Huron Colony, 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), soybeans, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): soybeans, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), alfalfa, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), alfalfa; 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 1,290 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.1 mi SE, blooms late Jun – early Sep (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 2,806 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.1 mi N, 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 Huron Colony
Mostly: Corn; Soybeans; Northern & Central Plains Ruderal & Planted Grassland.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.12 mi S; pond, lake or river 0.17 mi NW.
How Huron Colony ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 90th | 26th | 94th | 63rd |
| South Dakota | 74th | 26th | 80th | 16th |
| Northern Glaciated Plains | 28th | 53rd | 48th | 10th |
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 Huron Colony: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Riverside Colony 7 mi · Broadland 8 mi · Hitchcock 11 mi · Shamrock Colony 12 mi · Spink Colony 13 mi · Morningside 14 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 Huron Colony (44.5634, -98.2055); 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.