borough in New Jersey
Honey bee forage in Belmar, New Jersey
Estimated forage here is better than about 17% of sites in New Jersey. Against other New Jersey sites it ranks highest in fall (44th percentile) and lowest in spring (17th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 3.0 mi W, grown 3 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 3.7 mi W, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Belmar?
- First forage: Mar 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Jul 15, peaking late Apr (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers)
- Fall flow: Aug 1 to Sep 15 (garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Belmar, 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 Apr 26.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, lindens / basswood; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, summer-flowering shrubs; 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
- Soybeans: about 8 acres in a typical year, nearest 3 mi W, blooms early Jun – early Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 2 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.7 mi W, 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 Belmar
Mostly: Open water; Developed, medium intensity; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards).
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.23 mi NW; open water 0.23 mi E.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 71% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Belmar ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 36th | 56th | 49th | 57th |
| New Jersey | 17th | 17th | 31st | 44th |
| Atlantic Coastal Pine Barrens | 18th | 21st | 28th | 37th |
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 Belmar: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Lake Como 1 mi · West Belmar 1 mi · Avon-by-the-Sea 1 mi · Shark River Hills 1 mi · Neptune City 2 mi · Bradley Beach 2 mi
All towns in New Jersey · 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 Belmar (40.1797, -74.0244); 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.