city in South Dakota
Honey bee forage in Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Estimated forage here is better than about 53% of sites in South Dakota. Against other South Dakota sites it stands out most in spring (99th percentile) and lowest in summer (44th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 2.5 mi NE, grown 2 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 1.6 mi E, grown 1 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 2.5 mi NE, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Sioux Falls?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Jul 31, peaking early May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers)
- Fall flow: Aug 16 to Sep 30 (garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Sioux Falls, 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): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, lindens / basswood; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, lindens / basswood; 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 47 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.9 mi NW, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 37 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.5 mi W, blooms late Jun – early Sep (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 26 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.5 mi NE, 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 Sioux Falls
Mostly: Developed, medium intensity; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns).
Nearest mapped water: open water 0.59 mi NE; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.66 mi NE.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 99% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Sioux Falls ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 73rd | 68th | 75th | 84th |
| South Dakota | 53rd | 99th | 44th | 46th |
| Western Corn Belt Plains | 1st | 94th | 1st | 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 Sioux Falls: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Pine Lakes Addition 5 mi · Meadow View Addition 6 mi · Anderson 6 mi · Shindler 7 mi · Harrisburg 7 mi · Tea 7 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 Sioux Falls (43.5407, -96.732); 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.