city in South Dakota
Honey bee forage in Winner, 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 spring (94th percentile) and lowest in fall (17th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.6 mi N, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.6 mi N, grown 2 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 0.3 mi NE, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Winner?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jun 16 to Aug 31, peaking early Jul (alfalfa, soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Winner, 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 7.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, alfalfa, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, alfalfa, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red; white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Fall honey (September to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), dandelion, garden flowers; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): alfalfa, soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; extra light amber, 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
- Soybeans: about 134 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.6 mi N, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 595 acres in a typical year, nearest 1 mi S, blooms early Jul – early Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 99 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.3 mi NE, blooms late Jun – 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 Winner
Mostly: Northern & Central Plains Ruderal & Planted Grassland; Northwestern Great Plains Mixedgrass Prairie; Corn.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.36 mi W; pond, lake or river 0.64 mi SW.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 57% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Winner ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 76th | 56th | 84th | 64th |
| South Dakota | 55th | 94th | 52nd | 17th |
| Northwestern Great Plains | 92nd | 99th | 90th | 4th |
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 Winner: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Colome 11 mi · Ideal 12 mi · New Witten 12 mi · Hamill 17 mi · Dallas 20 mi · Gregory 24 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 Winner (43.3776, -99.8551); 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.