city in South Dakota
Honey bee forage in Plankinton, 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 spring (99th percentile) and lowest in fall (29th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.5 mi N, grown 3 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.2 mi NE, grown 4 of the last 5 years); sunflower (nearest 1.4 mi NE, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Plankinton?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jun 16 to Aug 31, peaking late Jul (soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, alfalfa)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Plankinton, 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 10.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, soybeans, alfalfa; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, alfalfa, dandelion; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, spotted and diffuse knapweed, alfalfa; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- 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 316 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.5 mi N, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 393 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.5 mi N, blooms early Jul – early Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Sunflower: about 220 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.4 mi NE, blooms early Jul – late 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 Plankinton
Mostly: Western Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland; Soybeans; Corn.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.21 mi W; open water 0.21 mi W.
How Plankinton ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 93rd | 68th | 91st | 74th |
| South Dakota | 82nd | 99th | 66th | 29th |
| Northern Glaciated Plains | 43rd | 99th | 19th | 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 Plankinton: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Stickney 9 mi · Mount Vernon 11 mi · White Lake 11 mi · Storla 12 mi · Aurora Center 14 mi · Loomis 20 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 Plankinton (43.7154, -98.4836); 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.