city in South Dakota
Honey bee forage in Milbank, South Dakota
Estimated forage here is better than about 71% of sites in South Dakota. Against other South Dakota sites it stands out most in spring (94th percentile) and lowest in fall (58th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.5 mi N, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.5 mi N, grown 3 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 0.7 mi W).
When is the honey flow in Milbank?
- 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 Milbank, 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): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), garden flowers; 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, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers; 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 507 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.5 mi N, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 4,168 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.2 mi SE, blooms late Jul – 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 Milbank
Mostly: Corn; Soybeans; Eastern Great Plains Wet Meadow-Prairie-Marsh.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.3 mi N; pond, lake or river 0.32 mi N.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 63% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Milbank ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 89th | 56th | 90th | 88th |
| South Dakota | 71st | 94th | 64th | 58th |
| Northern Glaciated Plains | 24th | 93rd | 15th | 34th |
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 Milbank: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Twin Brooks 7 mi · Big Stone City 10 mi · Corona 10 mi · Stockholm 11 mi · La Bolt 12 mi · Albee 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 Milbank (45.2194, -96.6337); 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.