community in California
Honey bee forage in Arbuckle, California
Estimated forage here is better than about 97% of sites in California. Against other California sites it stands out most in spring (93rd percentile) and lowest in fall (19th). Biggest nearby bee crops: almonds (nearest 0.1 mi SW); grapes (nearest 0.6 mi E); cucumbers (nearest 0.9 mi S, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Arbuckle?
- First forage: Feb 1 (almonds)
- Main flow: Feb 16 to Mar 15, peaking early Mar (almonds)
- Season ends: Apr 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Arbuckle, 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 Mar 2.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): almonds, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, cucumbers; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers
- Whole season (March to November): almonds, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers; 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
- Almonds: about 12,966 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.1 mi SW, blooms early Feb – late Mar
- Grapes: about 1,140 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.6 mi E, blooms early Apr – early May
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 Arbuckle
Mostly: Almonds; Pistachios; Grapes.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.53 mi NW; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.56 mi NW.
Things to watch
- Bee crops nearby that are often sprayed. Grapes (all types): insecticides used on about 58% of surveyed US acres (2021); Grapes, wine type: insecticides used on about 56% of surveyed US acres (2025); Grapes, table type: insecticides used on about 50% of surveyed US acres (2025); Grapes, raisin type: insecticides used on about 77% of surveyed US acres (2025); Cucumbers: insecticides used on about 36% of surveyed US acres (2024); Apples: insecticides used on about 77% of surveyed US acres (2025); Squash: insecticides used on about 71% of surveyed US acres (2024); Watermelons: insecticides used on about 38% of surveyed US acres (2024). Figures are from USDA's Agricultural Chemical Use Survey, matched by crop type from the crop map. The survey counts any insecticide use in the crop year (not seed treatments) and doesn't say when; ask nearby growers about spray timing.
How Arbuckle ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 100th | 99th | 8th | 5th |
| California | 97th | 93rd | 30th | 19th |
| Central California Valley | 82nd | 76th | 20th | 52nd |
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 Arbuckle: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
College City 3 mi · Dunnigan 10 mi · Grimes 10 mi · Williams 10 mi · Meridian 12 mi · Rumsey 13 mi
All towns in California · 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 Arbuckle (39.0142, -122.061); 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.