city in Mississippi
Honey bee forage in Natchez, Mississippi
Estimated forage here is better than about 84% of sites in Mississippi. Against other Mississippi sites it stands out most in fall (91st percentile) and lowest in summer (70th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 1.2 mi NE, grown 3 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 2.8 mi NW, grown 2 of the last 5 years); cotton (nearest 3.1 mi W, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Natchez?
- First forage: Jan 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Feb 1 to Apr 30, peaking early Mar (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Jun 1 to Jun 15 (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Natchez, 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 28.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), 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, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra 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, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); 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 7 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.2 mi NE, blooms late Apr – late Jun (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 242 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.8 mi NW, 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 Natchez
Mostly: Southeastern Native Ruderal Forest; Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns); East Gulf Coastal Plain Southern Loess Bluff Forest.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.05 mi SW; pond, lake or river 0.15 mi W.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 91% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Natchez ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 87th | 96th | 38th | 34th |
| Mississippi | 84th | 81st | 70th | 91st |
| Mississippi Valley Loess Plains | 73rd | 90th | 50th | 85th |
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 Natchez: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Morgantown 3 mi · Cloverdale 4 mi · Roxie 19 mi · Fayette 22 mi · Crosby 27 mi · Alcorn State University 27 mi
All towns in Mississippi · 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 Natchez (31.5424, -91.3856); 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.