community in South Dakota
Honey bee forage in Millerdale Colony, South Dakota
Estimated forage here is better than about 63% of sites in South Dakota. Against other South Dakota sites it stands out most in summer (66th percentile) and lowest in fall (21st). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.1 mi NE, grown 2 of the last 5 years); sunflower (nearest 0.8 mi W, grown 1 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.2 mi E, grown 4 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Millerdale Colony?
- First forage: Apr 1 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion)
- Main flow: Jul 1 to Aug 31, peaking late Jul (soybeans, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Millerdale 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 14.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, soybeans; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), sunflower, alfalfa; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), soybeans, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), alfalfa; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), sunflower, alfalfa; 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 542 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.1 mi NE, blooms late Jun – early Sep (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Sunflower: about 109 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.8 mi W, blooms early Jul – late Aug (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 341 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.2 mi E, blooms late Jul – early Aug (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 Millerdale Colony
Mostly: Northern & Central Plains Ruderal & Planted Grassland; Corn; Soybeans.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.09 mi W; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.12 mi S.
How Millerdale Colony ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 85th | 32nd | 91st | 69th |
| South Dakota | 63rd | 42nd | 66th | 21st |
| Northwestern Glaciated Plains | 77th | 70th | 79th | 26th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 32% 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 Millerdale Colony: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Ree Heights 9 mi · Miller 10 mi · St. Lawrence 12 mi · Highmore 18 mi · Stephan 20 mi · Wessington 21 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 Millerdale Colony (44.3974, -99.1103); 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.