community in Louisiana
Honey bee forage in Rio, Louisiana
Estimated forage here is better than about 72% of sites in Louisiana. Against other Louisiana sites it stands out most in spring (72nd percentile) and lowest in fall (28th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.7 mi NW, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.7 mi N, grown 3 of the last 5 years); sorghum (nearest 2.4 mi SW, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Rio?
- First forage: Jan 1 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Main flow: Jan 16 to Apr 30, peaking late Feb (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Season ends: Dec 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Rio, 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 22.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion, summer-flowering trees (locust, linden); extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), garden flowers; amber
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion, summer-flowering trees (locust, linden); 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 11 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.9 mi NW, blooms early Apr – early Jun (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 11 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.7 mi N, blooms late Apr – late May (grown 3 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 Rio
Mostly: Southeastern North American Temperate Forest Plantation; East Gulf Coastal Plain Large River Floodplain Forest; Southeastern Native Ruderal Forest.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0 mi S; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.03 mi NE.
How Rio ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 73rd | 85th | 18th | 15th |
| Louisiana | 72nd | 72nd | 67th | 28th |
| Southeastern Plains | 79th | 72nd | 37th | 62nd |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 86% 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 Rio: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Sun 3 mi · Bogalusa 6 mi · Varnado 14 mi · Abita Springs 17 mi · Folsom 19 mi · Franklinton 19 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 Rio (30.6914, -89.8896); 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.