city in Washington
Honey bee forage in Tekoa, Washington
Estimated forage here is better than about 42% of sites in Washington. Against other Washington sites it stands out most in summer (68th percentile) and lowest in spring (36th). Biggest nearby bee crops: canola (nearest 0.5 mi S, grown 1 of the last 5 years); chickpeas (nearest 0.3 mi W, grown 2 of the last 5 years); lentils (nearest 0.3 mi NE, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Tekoa?
- First forage: Apr 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jun 1 to Jul 31, peaking early Jul (chick Peas, lentils, canola)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Tekoa, 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 May 14.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, canola, lentils; extra light amber, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Summer honey (July and August): chick Peas, lentils, clovers: white, alsike and red, canola; extra light amber, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Fall honey (September to November): alfalfa, clovers: white, alsike and red, spotted and diffuse knapweed, dandelion; extra light amber, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Whole season (March to November): chick Peas, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, canola; extra light amber, likely to set within weeks to a few months
Nectar-source estimate (plants weighted by how much bees favor them), not a pollen analysis. Full honey estimate.
Bee crops within flight range
- Canola: about 121 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.5 mi S, blooms early May – late Jul (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Chickpeas: about 189 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.3 mi W, blooms early Jul – early Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Lentils: about 313 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.4 mi E, blooms late Jun – late Jul (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 Tekoa
Mostly: Winter Wheat; Chick Peas; Northern Rocky Mountain Dry-Mesic Montane Mixed Conifer Forest.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.08 mi NW; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.2 mi W.
Things to watch
- Lots of crops with little or no bee value. About 50% of the land within 3 miles is in crops bees get little from (such as wheat and other grains).
How Tekoa ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 72nd | 51st | 83rd | 63rd |
| Washington | 42nd | 36th | 68th | 61st |
| Columbia Plateau | 82nd | 55th | 89th | 36th |
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 Tekoa: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Latah 6 mi · Farmington 9 mi · Oakesdale 10 mi · Waverly 11 mi · Fairfield 12 mi · Rosalia 14 mi
All towns in Washington · 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 Tekoa (47.2247, -117.0731); 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.