community in South Dakota
Honey bee forage in Spring Lake Colony, South Dakota
Estimated forage here is better than about 78% of sites in South Dakota. Against other South Dakota sites it stands out most in summer (82nd percentile) and lowest in spring (25th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.2 mi E, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.3 mi W, grown 3 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 0.3 mi E, grown 4 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Spring Lake Colony?
- First forage: Apr 16 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Main flow: Jul 1 to Aug 31, peaking late Jul (soybeans)
- Season ends: Sep 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Spring Lake 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 15.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, 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
- Fall honey (September to November): soybeans, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, 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 3,017 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.2 mi E, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 799 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.4 mi N, blooms late Jul – late 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 Spring Lake Colony
Mostly: Corn; Soybeans; Open water.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0 mi S; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.49 mi W.
How Spring Lake Colony ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 92nd | 26th | 94th | 76th |
| South Dakota | 78th | 25th | 82nd | 31st |
| Northern Glaciated Plains | 36th | 52nd | 52nd | 19th |
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 Spring Lake Colony: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Sinai 7 mi · Oldham 7 mi · Ramona 8 mi · Arlington 9 mi · Nunda 9 mi · Hetland 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 Spring Lake Colony (44.2349, -97.1748); 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.