city in Idaho
Honey bee forage in Heyburn, Idaho
Estimated forage here is better than about 93% of sites in Idaho. Against other Idaho sites it stands out most in spring (95th percentile) and lowest in fall (46th). Biggest nearby bee crops: alfalfa (nearest 0.2 mi N, grown 1 of the last 5 years); dry beans (nearest 0.5 mi NW, grown 2 of the last 5 years); peas (nearest 0.2 mi NE, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Heyburn?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: May 1 to Aug 31, peaking late Jul (alfalfa, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Heyburn, 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 10.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, alfalfa, garden flowers; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): alfalfa, dry Beans, clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers; white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Fall honey (September to November): dry Beans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): alfalfa, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, dry Beans; extra light amber, 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
- Alfalfa: about 703 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.7 mi N, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Dry beans: about 23 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.5 mi NW, 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 Heyburn
Mostly: Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Alfalfa; Developed, medium intensity.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.22 mi S; pond, lake or river 0.29 mi E.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 54% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Heyburn ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 77th | 59th | 82nd | 76th |
| Idaho | 93rd | 95th | 82nd | 46th |
| Snake River Plain | 89th | 93rd | 84th | 38th |
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 Heyburn: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Burley 2 mi · Paul 3 mi · Rupert 6 mi · Declo 7 mi · Acequia 11 mi · Albion 14 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 Heyburn (42.56, -113.7621); 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.