community in Arizona
Honey bee forage in McNeal, Arizona
Estimated forage here is better than about 93% of sites in Arizona. Spring, summer and fall all rank about the same against other Arizona sites. Biggest nearby bee crops: alfalfa (nearest 0.4 mi W, grown 2 of the last 5 years); sorghum (nearest 3.2 mi NW, grown 1 of the last 5 years); dry beans (nearest 3.4 mi N, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in McNeal?
- First forage: Jan 16 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), native wildflowers)
- Main flow: Feb 1 to Jun 30, peaking late Apr (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), native wildflowers, summer-flowering trees (locust, linden))
- Fall flow: Jul 16 to Oct 31 (fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster))
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of McNeal, 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 8.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), summer-flowering trees (locust, linden), native wildflowers, summer-flowering shrubs; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); 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), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), summer-flowering trees (locust, linden), native wildflowers; 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
- Alfalfa: about 31 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.4 mi W, blooms late Apr – late 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 McNeal
Mostly: Chihuahuan Loamy Plains Desert Grassland; Chihuahuan Mixed Desert and Thornscrub; North American Warm Desert Ruderal & Planted Scrub.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.46 mi SW; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.49 mi NW.
How McNeal ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 39th | 62nd | 26th | 69th |
| Arizona | 93rd | 89th | 85th | 88th |
| Madrean Archipelago | 85th | 70th | 90th | 83rd |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 89% 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 McNeal: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Elfrida 5 mi · Douglas 16 mi · Pirtleville 18 mi · Sunizona 19 mi · Bisbee 22 mi · Naco 24 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 McNeal (31.6101, -109.6583); 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.