community in Alabama
Honey bee forage in St. Stephens, Alabama
Estimated forage here is better than about 39% of sites in Alabama. Against other Alabama sites it stands out most in fall (61st percentile) and lowest in summer (12th). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 3.4 mi SE, grown 2 of the last 5 years); cotton (nearest 3.4 mi SE, grown 1 of the last 5 years); soybeans (nearest 3.6 mi SE, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in St. Stephens?
- First forage: Jan 1 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Feb 16 to May 15, peaking early Apr (summer-flowering trees (locust, linden), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), summer-flowering shrubs)
- Season ends: Dec 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of St. Stephens, 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 1.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), summer-flowering trees (locust, linden), summer-flowering shrubs, early trees (maple, willow, poplar); extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); amber
- Whole season (March to November): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), summer-flowering trees (locust, linden), summer-flowering shrubs, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); 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
- Corn: about 227 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.4 mi SE, blooms early May – early Jun (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Cotton: about 41 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.4 mi SE, blooms early Jun – early Aug (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 14 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.6 mi SE, blooms late Apr – late 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 St. Stephens
Mostly: Southeastern North American Temperate Forest Plantation; East Gulf Coastal Plain Large River Floodplain Forest; Southeastern Native Ruderal Forest.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.11 mi NE; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.16 mi E.
How St. Stephens ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 42nd | 73rd | 9th | 16th |
| Alabama | 39th | 42nd | 12th | 61st |
| Southeastern Plains | 27th | 42nd | 6th | 64th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 90% 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 St. Stephens: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Leroy 7 mi · Hobson 8 mi · Jackson 10 mi · Chatom 13 mi · Coffeeville 14 mi · Millry 17 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 St. Stephens (31.5711, -88.0528); 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.