town in South Dakota
Honey bee forage in Yale, South Dakota
Estimated forage here is better than about 91% of sites in South Dakota. Against other South Dakota sites it stands out most in summer (85th percentile) and lowest in fall (30th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.2 mi S, grown 3 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.2 mi S, grown 1 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 0.4 mi NE).
When is the honey flow in Yale?
- First forage: Apr 1 (dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red)
- 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 Yale, 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): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), soybeans; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, alfalfa, clovers: white, alsike and red; white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Fall honey (September to November): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, alfalfa, dandelion; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, alfalfa; 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 771 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.4 mi S, blooms late Jun – early Sep (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 257 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 Yale
Mostly: Soybeans; Western Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland; Corn.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.17 mi NE; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.21 mi E.
How Yale ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 95th | 42nd | 95th | 75th |
| South Dakota | 91st | 80th | 85th | 30th |
| Northern Glaciated Plains | 63rd | 79th | 59th | 18th |
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 Yale: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Cavour 5 mi · Riverside Colony 8 mi · Pearl Creek Colony 8 mi · Iroquois 8 mi · Morningside 11 mi · Huron 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 Yale (44.4335, -97.9879); 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.