community in Utah
Honey bee forage in Benson, Utah
Estimated forage here is better than about 86% of sites in Utah. Against other Utah sites it stands out most in spring (96th percentile) and lowest in fall (42nd). Biggest nearby bee crops: alfalfa (nearest 0.1 mi SW, grown 3 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.4 mi SE, grown 3 of the last 5 years); safflower (nearest 1.8 mi W, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Benson?
- First forage: Mar 1 (early trees (maple, willow, poplar), dandelion)
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Aug 31, peaking early Jul (alfalfa, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Benson, 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 11.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), alfalfa; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): alfalfa, clovers: white, alsike and red, spotted and diffuse knapweed; white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Fall honey (September to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, spotted and diffuse knapweed, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Whole season (March to November): alfalfa, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar); 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
- Alfalfa: about 875 acres in a typical year, nearest 1 mi N, 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 Benson
Mostly: Alfalfa; Open water; Western Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0 mi S; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.3 mi NE.
How Benson ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 48th | 50th | 68th | 56th |
| Utah | 86th | 96th | 83rd | 42nd |
| Central Basin and Range | 92nd | 95th | 93rd | 23rd |
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 Benson: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Mendon 4 mi · Peter 4 mi · Logan 4 mi · River Heights 6 mi · North Logan 6 mi · Cache 7 mi
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 Benson (41.7529, -111.9259); 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.