community in California
Honey bee forage in Niland, California
Estimated forage here is better than about 52% of sites in California. Against other California sites it stands out most in spring (52nd percentile) and lowest in summer (29th). Biggest nearby bee crops: citrus (nearest 0.8 mi W); alfalfa (nearest 0.4 mi SE, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Niland?
- First forage: Jan 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Main flow: Feb 1 to Apr 30, peaking early Apr (citrus, clovers: white, alsike and red, alfalfa)
- Fall flow: May 16 to May 31 (alfalfa)
- Season ends: Dec 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Niland, 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 11.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): alfalfa, citrus, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Summer honey (July and August): garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, rabbitbrush, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); dark amber
- Whole season (March to November): alfalfa, citrus, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); white, 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
- Citrus: about 587 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.3 mi N, blooms early Mar – late Apr
- Alfalfa: about 172 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.8 mi NW, blooms early Apr – late May (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 Niland
Mostly: Barren; Citrus; Fallow / idle cropland.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.24 mi S; pond, lake or river 0.39 mi SW.
Things to watch
- 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 Niland ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 53rd | 78th | 8th | 13th |
| California | 52nd | 52nd | 29th | 31st |
| Sonoran Basin and Range | 91st | 93rd | 87th | 18th |
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 Niland: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Calipatria 5 mi · Bombay Beach 15 mi · Westmorland 15 mi · Brawley 18 mi · Salton City 26 mi · Imperial 28 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 Niland (33.2387, -115.5144); 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.