community in South Dakota
Honey bee forage in Long Lake Colony, South Dakota
Estimated forage here is better than about 67% of sites in South Dakota. Against other South Dakota sites it stands out most in fall (96th percentile) and lowest in summer (61st). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (right here, grown 1 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.4 mi N, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Long Lake Colony?
- First forage: Apr 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jul 1 to Aug 31, peaking late Jul (soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Long Lake 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 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, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, alfalfa, dandelion; white, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, spotted and diffuse knapweed; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); 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 524 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.6 mi W, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 188 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.5 mi W, blooms late Jul – late Aug (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 Long Lake Colony
Mostly: Western Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland; Soybeans; Corn.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.11 mi NE; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.11 mi E.
How Long Lake Colony ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 88th | 52nd | 89th | 96th |
| South Dakota | 67th | 92nd | 61st | 96th |
| Northern Glaciated Plains | 17th | 90th | 11th | 54th |
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 Long Lake Colony: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Wetonka 3 mi · Deerfield Colony 4 mi · Grassland Colony 5 mi · Plainview Colony 9 mi · Leola 10 mi · Mina 11 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 Colony (45.6026, -98.826); 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.