village in Louisiana
Honey bee forage in Chataignier, Louisiana
Estimated forage here is better than about 80% of sites in Louisiana. Against other Louisiana sites it stands out most in spring (87th percentile) and lowest in fall (8th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.2 mi SE, grown 3 of the last 5 years); sorghum (nearest 0.4 mi NW, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.2 mi SE, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Chataignier?
- First forage: Jan 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Main flow: Feb 16 to Jun 15, peaking late Apr (soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Season ends: Jul 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Chataignier, 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 20.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); amber
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion; 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
- Soybeans: about 323 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.2 mi SE, blooms early Apr – early Jun (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Sorghum: about 116 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.4 mi NW, blooms late 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 Chataignier
Mostly: Rice; Eastern Warm Temperate Pasture and Hayland; Aquaculture.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.1 mi W; open water 0.1 mi W.
How Chataignier ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 81st | 96th | 27th | 4th |
| Louisiana | 80th | 87th | 80th | 8th |
| Western Gulf Coastal Plain | 77th | 98th | 67th | 17th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 37% of the land here is scored with national averages for its vegetation type rather than measured plant cover, so the wild-plant part of this estimate is rougher than the crop part.
The national forage map around Chataignier: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Mamou 8 mi · Eunice 8 mi · Ville Platte 9 mi · Lawtell 9 mi · Reddell 9 mi · Church Point 13 mi
All towns in Louisiana · 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 Chataignier (30.5696, -92.3168); 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.