city in South Dakota
Honey bee forage in Vermillion, South Dakota
Estimated forage here is better than about 75% of sites in South Dakota. Against other South Dakota sites it stands out most in spring (100th percentile) and lowest in fall (20th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.7 mi S, grown 3 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.6 mi E, grown 4 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Vermillion?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jun 16 to Aug 15, peaking early Jul (soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Vermillion, 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 5.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, soybeans, garden flowers; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers; 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 531 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.8 mi N, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 2,474 acres in a typical year, nearest 1 mi SW, 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 Vermillion
Mostly: Soybeans; Corn; Open water.
Nearest mapped water: open water 0.18 mi NW; pond, lake or river 0.61 mi SW.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 79% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Vermillion ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 91st | 76th | 89th | 67th |
| South Dakota | 75th | 100th | 61st | 20th |
| Northern Glaciated Plains | 31st | 100th | 11th | 12th |
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 Vermillion: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Burbank 5 mi · Meckling 8 mi · Richland 14 mi · Elk Point 14 mi · Gayville 15 mi · Volin 18 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 Vermillion (42.7817, -96.9256); 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.