community in South Dakota
Honey bee forage in Vale, South Dakota
Estimated forage here is better than about 55% of sites in South Dakota. Against other South Dakota sites it stands out most in fall (98th percentile) and lowest in spring (41st). Biggest nearby bee crops: alfalfa (right here, grown 1 of the last 5 years); corn (right here, grown 4 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Vale?
- First forage: Apr 1 (dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jun 16 to Sep 15, peaking early Aug (alfalfa)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Vale, 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): alfalfa, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): alfalfa, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Fall honey (September to November): alfalfa, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red; extra light amber, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Whole season (March to November): alfalfa, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
Nectar-source estimate (plants weighted by how much bees favor them), not a pollen analysis. Full honey estimate.
Bee crops within flight range
- Alfalfa: about 1,313 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.3 mi N, blooms late Jun – early Sep (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 168 acres in a typical year, nearest 0 mi , blooms late Jul – early Sep (grown 4 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 Vale
Mostly: Northwestern Great Plains Mixedgrass Prairie; Alfalfa; Northern & Central Plains Ruderal & Planted Grassland.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.09 mi S; open water 0.29 mi NE.
How Vale ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 77th | 32nd | 86th | 97th |
| South Dakota | 55th | 41st | 55th | 98th |
| Northwestern Great Plains | 93rd | 64th | 92nd | 93rd |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 30% 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 Vale: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Newell 7 mi · Nisland 9 mi · Fruitdale 15 mi · Sturgis 15 mi · Whitewood 16 mi · St. Onge 17 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 Vale (44.6183, -103.3987); 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.