community in South Dakota
Honey bee forage in Pine Lakes Addition, South Dakota
Estimated forage here is better than about 67% of sites in South Dakota. Against other South Dakota sites it stands out most in spring (99th percentile) and lowest in fall (48th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.2 mi SE, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.2 mi N, grown 4 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Pine Lakes Addition?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: May 1 to Aug 31, peaking early Jul (soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Pine Lakes Addition, 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): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), soybeans; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, alfalfa; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), garden flowers; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, soybeans, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); 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 81 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.4 mi W, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 81 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.4 mi W, 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 Pine Lakes Addition
Mostly: Western Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Northern Tallgrass Prairie.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.09 mi NW; open water 0.29 mi NW.
How Pine Lakes Addition ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 88th | 67th | 88th | 84th |
| South Dakota | 67th | 99th | 58th | 48th |
| Western Corn Belt Plains | 22nd | 94th | 9th | 99th |
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 Pine Lakes Addition: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Anderson 2 mi · Brandon 4 mi · Rowena 5 mi · Sioux Falls 5 mi · Shindler 6 mi · Meadow View Addition 6 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 Pine Lakes Addition (43.5512, -96.6354); 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.