city in South Dakota
Honey bee forage in Mitchell, South Dakota
Estimated forage here is better than about 61% of sites in South Dakota. Against other South Dakota sites it stands out most in spring (99th percentile) and lowest in fall (30th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.5 mi W, grown 3 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (right here, grown 4 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.5 mi W, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Mitchell?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: May 1 to Aug 31, peaking early Jul (clovers: white, alsike and red, soybeans, dandelion)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Mitchell, 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 9.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, alfalfa, soybeans; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, alfalfa, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; white, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, soybeans, 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 217 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.5 mi W, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 54 acres in a typical year, nearest 0 mi , blooms late Jun – early Sep (grown 4 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 192 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.5 mi W, blooms early Jul – early Aug (grown 2 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 Mitchell
Mostly: Corn; Northern & Central Plains Ruderal & Planted Grassland; Soybeans.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.22 mi S; pond, lake or river 0.59 mi NE.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 64% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Mitchell ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 84th | 66th | 86th | 75th |
| South Dakota | 61st | 99th | 54th | 30th |
| Northern Glaciated Plains | 8th | 98th | 5th | 18th |
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 Mitchell: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Loomis 5 mi · Millbrook Colony 9 mi · Rosedale Colony 11 mi · Upland Colony 11 mi · Fulton 11 mi · Mount Vernon 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 Mitchell (43.7271, -98.0422); 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.