city in Louisiana
Honey bee forage in West Monroe, Louisiana
Estimated forage here is better than about 70% of sites in Louisiana. Against other Louisiana sites it stands out most in summer (88th percentile) and lowest in spring (71st). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 2.3 mi N, grown 1 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 2.6 mi SE, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in West Monroe?
- First forage: Jan 1 (dandelion)
- Main flow: Feb 16 to May 15, peaking early Mar (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Jun 1 to Jul 31 (garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of West Monroe, 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 Mar 5.
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, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); amber
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, summer-flowering shrubs; 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 36 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.1 mi SE, blooms late Apr – late Jun (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 14 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.1 mi SE, blooms early May – early Jun (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 West Monroe
Mostly: Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns); Developed, medium intensity.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.26 mi SW; pond, lake or river 0.27 mi S.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 96% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How West Monroe ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 71st | 84th | 38th | 45th |
| Louisiana | 70th | 71st | 88th | 80th |
| South Central Plains | 76th | 70th | 95th | 88th |
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 West Monroe: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Brownsville 2 mi · Bawcomville 3 mi · Claiborne 3 mi · Monroe 4 mi · Richwood 6 mi · Lakeshore 7 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 West Monroe (32.5123, -92.1511); 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.