city in Louisiana

Honey bee forage in New Iberia, Louisiana

Estimated forage here is better than about 78% of sites in Louisiana. Against other Louisiana sites it stands out most in summer (86th percentile) and lowest in spring (66th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 1.4 mi NW, grown 1 of the last 5 years).

When is the honey flow in New Iberia?

  • First forage: Jan 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
  • Main flow: Feb 1 to Apr 30, peaking late Feb (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
  • Fall flow: Jun 1 to Jul 15 (garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
  • Season ends: Sep 30
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of New Iberia, 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): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, summer-flowering shrubs; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
  • Summer honey (July and August): garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
  • Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers
  • Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, summer-flowering shrubs; 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 74 acres in a typical year, nearest 2 mi SE, blooms early Apr – early Jun (grown 1 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 New Iberia

Mostly: Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Eastern Warm Temperate Pasture and Hayland; Sugarcane.

Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.2 mi NE; open water 0.2 mi NE.

Things to watch

  • Heavily developed. About 98% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.

How New Iberia ranks

Against random land inOverallSpringSummerFall
Continental US78th80th35th44th
Louisiana78th66th86th80th
Western Gulf Coastal Plain70th54th86th70th

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 New Iberia: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.

Nearby

Lydia 6 mi · Loreauville 6 mi · Cade 8 mi · St. Martinville 8 mi · Jeanerette 11 mi · Delcambre 11 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 New Iberia (30.0055, -91.8203); 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.