community in South Dakota
Honey bee forage in New Holland, South Dakota
Estimated forage here is better than about 73% of sites in South Dakota. Against other South Dakota sites it stands out most in spring (88th percentile) and lowest in fall (14th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.2 mi S, grown 1 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.2 mi S, grown 1 of the last 5 years); sunflower (nearest 1.1 mi SE, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in New Holland?
- First forage: Apr 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Main flow: Jul 1 to Aug 31, peaking late Jul (soybeans)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of New Holland, 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, soybeans, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, alfalfa, clovers: white, alsike and red, sunflower; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- 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 171 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.2 mi S, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 366 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.3 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 New Holland
Mostly: Corn; Soybeans; Western Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.16 mi E; pond, lake or river 0.26 mi NE.
How New Holland ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 90th | 47th | 92nd | 60th |
| South Dakota | 73rd | 88th | 71st | 14th |
| Northwestern Glaciated Plains | 84th | 92nd | 83rd | 15th |
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 New Holland: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Harrison 4 mi · Aurora Center 7 mi · Corsica 10 mi · Platte 12 mi · Cedar Grove Colony 12 mi · Geddes 13 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 New Holland (43.4287, -98.6073); 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.