town in South Dakota
Honey bee forage in Long Lake, South Dakota
Estimated forage here is better than about 49% of sites in South Dakota. Against other South Dakota sites it stands out most in fall (89th percentile) and lowest in summer (47th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.1 mi E, grown 3 of the last 5 years); sunflower (nearest 1.4 mi S, grown 1 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 0.2 mi W, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Long Lake?
- First forage: Apr 1 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion)
- Main flow: May 16 to Sep 15, peaking late Jul (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), alfalfa, soybeans)
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Long Lake, 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 20.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, native wildflowers; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), soybeans, alfalfa, clovers: white, alsike and red; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), alfalfa, soybeans; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Whole season (March to November): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), alfalfa, soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red; 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 37 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.1 mi E, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Sunflower: about 195 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.4 mi S, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 78 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.4 mi NE, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 4 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 Long Lake
Mostly: Northwestern Great Plains Mixedgrass Prairie; Northern & Central Plains Ruderal & Planted Grassland; Open water.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.29 mi E; pond, lake or river 0.32 mi SW.
How Long Lake ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 66th | 42nd | 78th | 94th |
| South Dakota | 49th | 80th | 47th | 89th |
| Northwestern Glaciated Plains | 55th | 87th | 49th | 76th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 51% 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 Long Lake: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Leola 16 mi · Spring Creek Colony 16 mi · Eureka 21 mi · Plainview Colony 21 mi · Hillsview 22 mi · Hosmer 23 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 Long Lake (45.8567, -99.2058); 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.