community in South Dakota
Honey bee forage in Stephan, South Dakota
Estimated forage here is better than about 63% of sites in South Dakota. Against other South Dakota sites it stands out most in spring (88th percentile) and lowest in fall (31st). Biggest nearby bee crops: sunflower (nearest 0.3 mi S, grown 1 of the last 5 years); soybeans (nearest 0.7 mi W, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.3 mi S, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Stephan?
- First forage: Apr 1 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Main flow: Jul 1 to Aug 31, peaking late Jul (sunflower, soybeans, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Stephan, 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 14.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion, native wildflowers, clovers: white, alsike and red; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): sunflower, soybeans, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); light amber, likely to stay liquid a long time
- Fall honey (September to November): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), soybeans, alfalfa; light amber, likely to set over some months
- Whole season (March to November): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), sunflower, soybeans, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); 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
- Sunflower: about 37 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.8 mi N, blooms early Jul – late Aug (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 240 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.9 mi E, blooms late Jun – early Sep (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 348 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.8 mi E, blooms late Jul – early Aug (grown 2 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 Stephan
Mostly: Northern & Central Plains Ruderal & Planted Grassland; Northwestern Great Plains Mixedgrass Prairie; Northwestern Great Plains Riparian Herbaceous.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.11 mi N; pond, lake or river 0.12 mi N.
How Stephan ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 85th | 46th | 89th | 76th |
| South Dakota | 63rd | 88th | 61st | 31st |
| Northwestern Glaciated Plains | 77th | 91st | 75th | 37th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 59% of the land here is scored with national averages for its vegetation type rather than measured plant cover, so the wild-plant part of this estimate is rougher than the crop part.
The national forage map around Stephan: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Lower Brule 14 mi · Fort Thompson 14 mi · West Brule 15 mi · Highmore 19 mi · Millerdale Colony 20 mi · Ree Heights 22 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 Stephan (44.2491, -99.4567); 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.