community in South Dakota
Honey bee forage in Jamesville Colony, South Dakota
Estimated forage here is better than about 62% of sites in South Dakota. Against other South Dakota sites it stands out most in spring (94th percentile) and lowest in fall (17th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.2 mi NE, grown 1 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.1 mi SE, grown 4 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 0.2 mi NE, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Jamesville Colony?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jun 16 to Aug 31, peaking early Jul (soybeans, alfalfa, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Jamesville 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 7.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, soybeans; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, alfalfa, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red; white, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion; light amber, likely to set over some months
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; 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 378 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.7 mi N, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 403 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.7 mi N, blooms early Jul – early Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 73 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.2 mi NE, blooms late Jun – 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 Jamesville Colony
Mostly: Western Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland; Corn; Soybeans.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.08 mi SW; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.11 mi NW.
How Jamesville Colony ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 85th | 55th | 89th | 63rd |
| South Dakota | 62nd | 94th | 60th | 17th |
| Northern Glaciated Plains | 10th | 92nd | 10th | 10th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 31% 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 Jamesville Colony: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Lesterville 7 mi · Utica 8 mi · Maxwell Colony 10 mi · Menno 11 mi · Scotland 12 mi · Cameron Colony 13 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 Jamesville Colony (43.1015, -97.4818); 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.