city in California
Honey bee forage in Dixon, California
Estimated forage here is better than about 83% of sites in California. Against other California sites it stands out most in spring (75th percentile) and lowest in fall (42nd). Biggest nearby bee crops: almonds (nearest 0.7 mi NE); sunflower (nearest 0.6 mi E, grown 2 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 0.7 mi SE, grown 4 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Dixon?
- First forage: Jan 16 (dandelion, almonds, maples)
- Main flow: Feb 1 to Mar 31, peaking early Mar (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, almonds)
- Fall flow: Apr 16 to Jun 30 (sunflower, clovers: white, alsike and red, alfalfa)
- Season ends: Jul 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Dixon, 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): sunflower, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, alfalfa; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, dry Beans; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); amber
- Whole season (March to November): sunflower, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers; 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
- Almonds: about 530 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.7 mi NE, blooms early Feb – late Mar
- Sunflower: about 193 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.6 mi E, blooms late Apr – late Jun (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 Dixon
Mostly: Almonds; Walnuts; Developed, medium intensity.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.6 mi NW; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.67 mi E.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 82% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Dixon ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 88th | 96th | 48th | 20th |
| California | 83rd | 75th | 74th | 42nd |
| Central California Valley | 45th | 44th | 81st | 75th |
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 Dixon: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Hartley 7 mi · University of California-Davis 7 mi · Elmira 8 mi · Allendale 9 mi · Davis 9 mi · Vacaville 10 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 Dixon (38.4475, -121.8242); 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.