village in Louisiana
Honey bee forage in Varnado, Louisiana
Estimated forage here is better than about 67% of sites in Louisiana. Against other Louisiana sites it stands out most in spring (66th percentile) and lowest in fall (35th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 1.8 mi E, grown 3 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 1.8 mi E, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Varnado?
- 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 Varnado, 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 23.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), summer-flowering trees (locust, linden), summer-flowering shrubs; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), garden flowers, dandelion; 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), summer-flowering trees (locust, linden), dandelion; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
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 113 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.3 mi NE, blooms early Apr – early Jun (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 94 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.8 mi N, blooms late Apr – late May (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 Varnado
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 0.17 mi E; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.19 mi NE.
How Varnado ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 68th | 81st | 16th | 18th |
| Louisiana | 67th | 66th | 60th | 35th |
| Southeastern Plains | 72nd | 63rd | 30th | 71st |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 83% 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 Varnado: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Angie 5 mi · Bogalusa 9 mi · Rio 14 mi · Sun 17 mi · Franklinton 19 mi · Folsom 28 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 Varnado (30.8953, -89.8319); 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.