town in South Dakota
Honey bee forage in La Bolt, 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 fall (97th percentile) and lowest in summer (78th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (right here, grown 1 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.2 mi S, grown 2 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (right here, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in La Bolt?
- First forage: Apr 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jul 1 to Aug 31, peaking late Jul (soybeans, alfalfa, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of La Bolt, 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): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, alfalfa; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, alfalfa, clovers: white, alsike and red; white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Fall honey (September to November): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, alfalfa, dandelion; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, alfalfa; 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 1,814 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.3 mi NE, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 863 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.7 mi NW, blooms late Jul – late Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 94 acres in a typical year, nearest 0 mi , 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 La Bolt
Mostly: Western Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland; Corn; Soybeans.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.02 mi S; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.18 mi W.
How La Bolt ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 96th | 52nd | 93rd | 96th |
| South Dakota | 94th | 92nd | 78th | 97th |
| Northern Glaciated Plains | 69th | 90th | 42nd | 56th |
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 La Bolt: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Strandburg 4 mi · Revillo 6 mi · Albee 6 mi · Stockholm 7 mi · Milbank 12 mi · Twin Brooks 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 La Bolt (45.049, -96.6752); 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.