community in South Dakota
Honey bee forage in Winfred, South Dakota
Estimated forage here is better than about 67% of sites in South Dakota. Against other South Dakota sites it stands out most in summer (69th percentile) and lowest in fall (21st). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.1 mi E, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.1 mi E, grown 3 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 0.7 mi SW, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Winfred?
- First forage: Apr 1 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion)
- 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 Winfred, 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 13.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, soybeans; 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, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), alfalfa, 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), alfalfa, clovers: white, alsike and red; 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 538 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.6 mi E, blooms late Jun – early Sep (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 1,637 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.4 mi S, blooms early 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 Winfred
Mostly: Corn; Soybeans; Northern & Central Plains Ruderal & Planted Grassland.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.04 mi NE; open water 0.04 mi E.
How Winfred ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 88th | 38th | 91st | 68th |
| South Dakota | 67th | 68th | 69th | 21st |
| Northern Glaciated Plains | 16th | 73rd | 24th | 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 Winfred: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Shannon Colony 3 mi · Graceville Colony 6 mi · Howard 8 mi · Canova 11 mi · Ramona 11 mi · Vilas 12 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 Winfred (43.9988, -97.3616); 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.