community in South Dakota
Honey bee forage in Wakpala, South Dakota
Estimated forage here is better than about 45% of sites in South Dakota. Against other South Dakota sites it stands out most in spring (86th percentile) and lowest in summer (42nd). Biggest nearby bee crops: sunflower (nearest 1.2 mi N, grown 1 of the last 5 years); soybeans (nearest 0.7 mi E, grown 1 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 0.7 mi E, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Wakpala?
- First forage: Mar 16 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Sep 15, peaking late Jul (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), soybeans)
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Wakpala, 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), native wildflowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), soybeans, sunflower; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), alfalfa, soybeans; amber, likely to set over some months
- Whole season (March to November): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), soybeans, sunflower; 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 42 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.3 mi NE, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 52 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.7 mi E, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 115 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.7 mi E, blooms late Jun – early Sep (grown 1 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 Wakpala
Mostly: Northwestern Great Plains Mixedgrass Prairie; Open water; Northwestern Great Plains Riparian Herbaceous.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0 mi S; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0 mi S.
How Wakpala ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 58th | 45th | 73rd | 88th |
| South Dakota | 45th | 86th | 42nd | 59th |
| Northwestern Great Plains | 81st | 96th | 76th | 44th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 69% 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 Wakpala: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Mobridge 10 mi · Little Eagle 13 mi · Kenel 14 mi · Glenham 15 mi · McLaughlin 17 mi · Pollock 20 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 Wakpala (45.6594, -100.5355); 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.