community in South Dakota
Honey bee forage in Orland Colony, South Dakota
Estimated forage here is better than about 82% of sites in South Dakota. Against other South Dakota sites it stands out most in summer (82nd percentile) and lowest in fall (18th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (right here, grown 1 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.1 mi N, grown 1 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 0.1 mi NE, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Orland Colony?
- First forage: Apr 1 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- 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 Orland 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 12.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red, soybeans, dandelion; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), alfalfa; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; 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 1,522 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.3 mi S, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 1,004 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.1 mi N, blooms early Jul – early Aug (grown 1 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 Orland Colony
Mostly: Corn; Soybeans; Western Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.03 mi NE; pond, lake or river 0.22 mi SE.
How Orland Colony ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 93rd | 40th | 94th | 65th |
| South Dakota | 82nd | 75th | 82nd | 18th |
| Northern Glaciated Plains | 44th | 76th | 50th | 11th |
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 Orland Colony: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Rustic Acres Colony 6 mi · Montrose 8 mi · Graceville Colony 9 mi · Salem 12 mi · Lake Madison 13 mi · Madison 14 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 Orland Colony (43.8216, -97.199); 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.