city in South Dakota
Honey bee forage in Leola, 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 (79th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.4 mi NW, grown 3 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.4 mi NW, grown 2 of the last 5 years); sunflower (nearest 0.9 mi SW, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Leola?
- First forage: Apr 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jul 1 to Aug 31, peaking late Jul (soybeans)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Leola, 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 17.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, alfalfa, clovers: white, alsike and red, sunflower; white, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- 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 3,563 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.4 mi NW, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 361 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.4 mi NW, blooms late Jul – late Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Sunflower: about 40 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.9 mi SW, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 1 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 Leola
Mostly: Western Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland; Corn; Soybeans.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.31 mi N; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.31 mi N.
How Leola ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 96th | 52nd | 94th | 96th |
| South Dakota | 94th | 92nd | 79th | 97th |
| Northern Glaciated Plains | 71st | 90th | 45th | 55th |
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 Leola: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Grassland Colony 8 mi · Deerfield Colony 9 mi · Long Lake Colony 10 mi · Plainview Colony 10 mi · Wetonka 10 mi · Spring Creek 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 Leola (45.7211, -98.9385); 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.