community in Arizona
Honey bee forage in Padre Ranchitos, Arizona
Estimated forage here is better than about 99% of sites in Arizona. Against other Arizona sites it stands out most in spring (99th percentile) and lowest in fall (7th). Biggest nearby bee crops: citrus (nearest 0.1 mi NW); alfalfa (right here, grown 1 of the last 5 years); sorghum (nearest 0.2 mi S, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Padre Ranchitos?
- First forage: Jan 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Mar 1 to May 15, peaking early Apr (citrus, alfalfa, cantaloupes)
- Fall flow: Jun 1 to Jul 15 (cantaloupes, cotton)
- Season ends: Jul 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Padre Ranchitos, 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 Feb 8.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): citrus, cantaloupes, alfalfa, clovers: white, alsike and red; white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Summer honey (July and August): cantaloupes, cotton, garden flowers; extra light amber, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, rabbitbrush; dark amber
- Whole season (March to November): cantaloupes, citrus, alfalfa, cotton; white, 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
- Citrus: about 1,201 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.4 mi SE, blooms late Feb – late Apr
- Alfalfa: about 1,352 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.5 mi SE, blooms late Mar – late May (grown 4 of the last 5 years)
- Sorghum: about 33 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.2 mi S, blooms late Apr – 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 Padre Ranchitos
Mostly: Developed, medium intensity; Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns); Alfalfa.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.18 mi E; pond, lake or river 0.5 mi N.
Things to watch
- Bee crops nearby that are often sprayed. Citrus: grapefruit: insecticides used on about 63% of surveyed US acres (2025); Citrus: lemons: insecticides used on about 75% of surveyed US acres (2025); Citrus: tangerines: insecticides used on about 82% of surveyed US acres (2025); Watermelons: insecticides used on about 38% of surveyed US acres (2024); Cantaloupes: insecticides used on about 87% of surveyed US acres (2024). Figures are from USDA's Agricultural Chemical Use Survey, matched by crop type from the crop map. The survey counts any insecticide use in the crop year (not seed treatments) and doesn't say when; ask nearby growers about spray timing.
How Padre Ranchitos ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 78th | 95th | 39th | 12th |
| Arizona | 99th | 99th | 96th | 7th |
| Sonoran Basin and Range | 97th | 98th | 98th | 16th |
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 Padre Ranchitos: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Orange Grove Mobile Manor 4 mi · Drysdale 4 mi · Rancho Mesa Verde 4 mi · Wall Lane 4 mi · Somerton 5 mi · Donovan Estates 5 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 Padre Ranchitos (32.6496, -114.6416); 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.