community in South Dakota
Honey bee forage in Old Elm Spring Colony, South Dakota
Estimated forage here is better than about 74% of sites in South Dakota. Against other South Dakota sites it stands out most in spring (93rd percentile) and lowest in fall (8th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.1 mi SE, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.1 mi W, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Old Elm Spring Colony?
- First forage: Apr 1 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), early trees (maple, willow, poplar), dandelion)
- Main flow: Jun 16 to Aug 31, peaking late Jul (soybeans)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Old Elm Spring 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 7.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), soybeans, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), clovers: white, alsike and red; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; light amber, likely to set over some months
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), early trees (maple, willow, poplar), clovers: white, alsike and red; 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 672 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.1 mi SE, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 1,884 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.2 mi S, 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 Old Elm Spring Colony
Mostly: Corn; Soybeans; Northern & Central Plains Ruderal & Planted Grassland.
Nearest mapped water: open water 0.04 mi E; pond, lake or river 0.13 mi SW.
How Old Elm Spring Colony ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 90th | 53rd | 92nd | 50th |
| South Dakota | 74th | 93rd | 71st | 8th |
| Northern Glaciated Plains | 28th | 90th | 29th | 5th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 31% 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 Old Elm Spring Colony: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
New Elm Spring Colony 1 mi · Oak Lane Colony 3 mi · Milltown 5 mi · Rockport Colony 7 mi · Dimock 9 mi · Ethan 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 Old Elm Spring Colony (43.4918, -97.8043); 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.