community in South Dakota
Honey bee forage in Sunset Colony, South Dakota
Estimated forage here is better than about 73% of sites in South Dakota. Against other South Dakota sites it stands out most in summer (74th percentile) and lowest in fall (48th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (right here, grown 3 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.1 mi NE, grown 2 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 0.2 mi N, grown 4 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Sunset Colony?
- First forage: Apr 1 (dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jul 1 to Aug 31, peaking late Jul (soybeans)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Sunset 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): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, alfalfa; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, alfalfa, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Fall honey (September to November): soybeans, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; extra 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
- Soybeans: about 394 acres in a typical year, nearest 0 mi E, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 1,883 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.7 mi NE, 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 Sunset Colony
Mostly: Corn; Western Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland; Soybeans.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.16 mi NW; pond, lake or river 0.56 mi S.
How Sunset Colony ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 90th | 35th | 92nd | 84th |
| South Dakota | 73rd | 58th | 74th | 48th |
| Northern Glaciated Plains | 28th | 69th | 34th | 28th |
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 Sunset Colony: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Britton 6 mi · Westwood Colony 8 mi · Newport Colony 9 mi · Kidder 10 mi · Claremont 11 mi · Hecla 14 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 Sunset Colony (45.8095, -97.8852); 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.