community in New Jersey
Honey bee forage in Rio Grande, New Jersey
Estimated forage here is better than about 48% of sites in New Jersey. Against other New Jersey sites it stands out most in fall (66th percentile) and lowest in summer (46th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.6 mi SW, grown 2 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 1.2 mi W, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 1.0 mi W, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Rio Grande?
- First forage: Feb 16 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Mar 16 to Jun 30, peaking late Apr (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Jul 16 to Aug 15 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Rio Grande, 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 21.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, 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): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; 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; 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 27 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.6 mi SW, blooms early Jun – early Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 3 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.2 mi W, blooms early Jun – early Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 1 acres in a typical year, nearest 1 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 Rio Grande
Mostly: Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain Tidal Salt Marsh; Open water; Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain Pitch Pine Lowland.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.06 mi SE; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.35 mi N.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 59% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Rio Grande ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 64th | 78th | 60th | 62nd |
| New Jersey | 48th | 61st | 46th | 66th |
| Atlantic Coastal Pine Barrens | 48th | 65th | 41st | 54th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 44% 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 Rio Grande: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Erma 2 mi · Whitesboro 2 mi · Burleigh 3 mi · Villas 3 mi · West Wildwood 3 mi · Wildwood 4 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 Rio Grande (39.0191, -74.8779); 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.