community in South Dakota
Honey bee forage in Milltown, 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 (97th percentile) and lowest in fall (15th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.4 mi SW, grown 2 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (right here, grown 4 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.4 mi SW, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Milltown?
- First forage: Mar 16 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jun 16 to Aug 31, peaking early Jul (soybeans, alfalfa, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Milltown, 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 7.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, alfalfa; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, alfalfa, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red; white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Fall honey (September to November): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), dandelion; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), alfalfa, clovers: white, alsike and red; 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 809 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.6 mi NW, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 126 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.2 mi S, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 5 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 295 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.4 mi SW, blooms early Jul – early 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 Milltown
Mostly: Soybeans; Corn; Northern & Central Plains Ruderal & Planted Grassland.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.35 mi NE; open water 0.35 mi NE.
How Milltown ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 89th | 59th | 91st | 61st |
| South Dakota | 71st | 97th | 66th | 15th |
| Northern Glaciated Plains | 24th | 95th | 19th | 8th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 37% 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 Milltown: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
New Elm Spring Colony 5 mi · Old Elm Spring Colony 5 mi · Oak Lane Colony 7 mi · Tschetter Colony 7 mi · Parkston 9 mi · Dimock 10 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 Milltown (43.4248, -97.8109); 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.