city in Texas
Honey bee forage in Riesel, Texas
Estimated forage here is better than about 82% of sites in Texas. Against other Texas sites it stands out most in spring (88th percentile) and lowest in fall (28th). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 1.2 mi S, grown 3 of the last 5 years); sorghum (nearest 1.5 mi NE, grown 3 of the last 5 years); cotton (nearest 3.4 mi E, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Riesel?
- First forage: Jan 1 (dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Main flow: Feb 1 to May 15, peaking early Mar (clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion)
- Fall flow: Jun 1 to Jun 30 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Riesel, 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 2.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); extra 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): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); 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
- Corn: about 212 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.7 mi E, blooms early May – early Jun (grown 5 of the last 5 years)
- Sorghum: about 52 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.9 mi NE, blooms early May – 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 Riesel
Mostly: Western Warm Temperate Pasture and Hayland; Southeastern Ruderal Grassland; East-Central Texas Plains Post Oak Savanna and Woodland.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.1 mi N; pond, lake or river 0.19 mi SE.
How Riesel ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 74th | 90th | 31st | 24th |
| Texas | 82nd | 88th | 71st | 28th |
| Texas Blackland Prairies | 52nd | 55th | 46th | 48th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 70% 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 Riesel: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Hallsburg 4 mi · Mart 8 mi · Golinda 10 mi · Robinson 11 mi · Marlin 12 mi · Bellmead 12 mi
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 Riesel (31.4739, -96.9451); 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.