community in California
Honey bee forage in El Rio, California
Estimated forage here is better than about 86% of sites in California. Against other California sites it stands out most in spring (91st percentile) and lowest in summer (43rd). Biggest nearby bee crops: citrus (nearest 0.3 mi NE); alfalfa (nearest 0.3 mi N, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in El Rio?
- First forage: Jan 1 (dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), maples)
- Main flow: Mar 1 to Apr 30, peaking early Apr (citrus)
- Season ends: Jul 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of El Rio, 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 Feb 12.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): citrus, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion; white, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); 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): citrus, garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); white, 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
- Citrus: about 316 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.5 mi E, blooms early Mar – late Apr
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 El Rio
Mostly: Developed, medium intensity; Citrus; Western Warm Temperate Row Crop.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.08 mi SE; open water 0.08 mi NE.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 60% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
- Bee crops nearby that are often sprayed. Citrus: grapefruit: insecticides used on about 63% of surveyed US acres (2025); Citrus: lemons: insecticides used on about 75% of surveyed US acres (2025); Citrus: tangerines: insecticides used on about 82% of surveyed US acres (2025). 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 El Rio ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 92nd | 98th | 19th | 24th |
| California | 86th | 91st | 43rd | 48th |
| Southern California/Northern Baja Coast | 92nd | 95th | 54th | 40th |
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 El Rio: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Saticoy 3 mi · Oxnard 4 mi · San Buenaventura (Ventura) 6 mi · Port Hueneme 6 mi · Channel Islands Beach 7 mi · Camarillo 7 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 El Rio (34.2454, -119.1568); 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.