city in Idaho
Honey bee forage in Castleford, Idaho
Estimated forage here is better than about 96% of sites in Idaho. Against other Idaho sites it stands out most in summer (99th percentile) and lowest in fall (37th). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (right here, grown 1 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 0.1 mi N, grown 3 of the last 5 years); dry beans (nearest 0.1 mi E, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Castleford?
- First forage: Apr 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jul 1 to Aug 31, peaking late Jul (alfalfa, dry Beans)
- Season ends: Sep 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Castleford, 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 May 3.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): alfalfa, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, peas; extra light amber, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Summer honey (July and August): alfalfa, dry Beans; white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Fall honey (September to November): dry Beans, spotted and diffuse knapweed, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; white, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): alfalfa, dry Beans, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; 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
- Corn: about 7,763 acres in a typical year, nearest 0 mi N, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 296 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.3 mi NE, blooms late Jun – early Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Dry beans: about 216 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.5 mi S, blooms early Jul – early Sep (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 Castleford
Mostly: Corn; Alfalfa; Winter Wheat.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.21 mi E; pond, lake or river 0.55 mi NW.
How Castleford ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 80th | 24th | 89th | 71st |
| Idaho | 96th | 52nd | 99th | 37th |
| Snake River Plain | 94th | 43rd | 99th | 28th |
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 Castleford: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Buhl 8 mi · Filer 14 mi · Hollister 19 mi · Wendell 20 mi · Hagerman 20 mi · Twin Falls 21 mi
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 Castleford (42.5206, -114.8718); 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.