community in Louisiana
Honey bee forage in Hester, Louisiana
Estimated forage here is better than about 57% of sites in Louisiana. Against other Louisiana sites it stands out most in summer (64th percentile) and lowest in fall (27th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.1 mi N, grown 4 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Hester?
- First forage: Jan 1 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Main flow: Jan 16 to Jun 15, peaking early Apr (soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Season ends: Dec 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Hester, 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 18.
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): garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); 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 156 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.1 mi N, blooms early Apr – early Jun (grown 4 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 Hester
Mostly: Mississippi River Bottomland Depression; Open water; Sugarcane.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.11 mi NW; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.13 mi E.
How Hester ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 58th | 78th | 17th | 15th |
| Louisiana | 57th | 62nd | 64th | 27th |
| Mississippi Alluvial Plain | 13th | 34th | 18th | 54th |
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 Hester: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Grand Point 2 mi · Paulina 3 mi · Convent 3 mi · North Vacherie 4 mi · Lutcher 4 mi · Romeville 5 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 Hester (30.026, -90.7702); 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.