city in Arizona
Honey bee forage in Nogales, Arizona
Estimated forage here is better than about 97% of sites in Arizona. Against other Arizona sites it stands out most in spring (96th percentile) and lowest in fall (64th). Biggest nearby bee crops: alfalfa (nearest 1.0 mi N, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Nogales?
- First forage: Jan 16 (dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Feb 16 to May 15, peaking early Mar (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Fall flow: Jun 1 to Jun 30 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), garden flowers, dandelion)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Nogales, 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 6.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), rabbitbrush; amber
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion, garden flowers; 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 6 acres in a typical year, nearest 1 mi N, blooms late Apr – late Jun (grown 3 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 Nogales
Mostly: Unmapped; Chihuahuan Mixed Desert and Thornscrub; Apacherian-Chihuahuan Semi-Desert Grassland.
Nearest mapped water: open water 0.04 mi S; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.22 mi E.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 58% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Nogales ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 56th | 78th | 28th | 42nd |
| Arizona | 97th | 96th | 89th | 64th |
| Madrean Archipelago | 97th | 93rd | 94th | 39th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 55% 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 Nogales: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Beyerville 4 mi · Kino Springs 7 mi · Rio Rico 10 mi · Tumacacori-Carmen 16 mi · Patagonia 17 mi · Tubac 19 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 Nogales (31.3619, -110.9348); 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.