community in California
Honey bee forage in McSwain, California
Estimated forage here is better than about 94% of sites in California. Against other California sites it stands out most in spring (92nd percentile) and lowest in fall (36th). Biggest nearby bee crops: almonds (nearest 0.1 mi N); alfalfa (nearest 0.1 mi S, grown 4 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in McSwain?
- First forage: Jan 16 (almonds, dandelion)
- Main flow: Feb 16 to Mar 15, peaking early Mar (almonds)
- Season ends: Jul 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of McSwain, 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 3.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): almonds, clovers: white, alsike and red, alfalfa, dandelion; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, cotton; 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): almonds, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, alfalfa; 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 2,299 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.5 mi E, blooms early Feb – late Mar
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 McSwain
Mostly: Almonds; Developed, medium intensity; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards).
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.08 mi SW; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.41 mi NW.
How McSwain ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 99th | 99th | 34th | 16th |
| California | 94th | 92nd | 60th | 36th |
| Central California Valley | 74th | 72nd | 66th | 72nd |
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 McSwain: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Atwater 3 mi · Franklin 3 mi · Winton 5 mi · Merced 6 mi · Cressey 8 mi · Livingston 9 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 McSwain (37.3145, -120.5868); 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.