community in New Mexico
Honey bee forage in Alma, New Mexico
Estimated forage here is better than about 66% of sites in New Mexico. Against other New Mexico sites it stands out most in spring (89th percentile) and lowest in fall (40th). Biggest nearby bee crops: alfalfa (nearest 1.1 mi NW, grown 1 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 1.1 mi SW, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Alma?
- First forage: Feb 1 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), native wildflowers, dandelion)
- Main flow: Mar 16 to May 31, peaking early Apr (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), spring-flowering shrubs, native wildflowers)
- Fall flow: Jun 16 to Jul 15 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), summer-flowering shrubs)
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Alma, 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 31.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), spring-flowering shrubs, 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), rabbitbrush, summer-flowering shrubs; light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), rabbitbrush; amber
- Whole season (March to November): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), spring-flowering shrubs, native wildflowers; 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 1.1 mi NW, blooms late May – early Jul (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 2 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.1 mi SW, blooms early Jun – early Aug (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 Alma
Mostly: Madrean Pinyon-Juniper Woodland; Apacherian-Chihuahuan Semi-Desert Shrub-Steppe; Mogollon Chaparral.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.07 mi SW; pond, lake or river 0.08 mi W.
How Alma ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 23rd | 61st | 22nd | 56th |
| New Mexico | 66th | 89th | 42nd | 40th |
| Arizona/New Mexico Mountains | 85th | 88th | 52nd | 75th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 93% 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 Alma: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Glenwood 5 mi · Mogollon 6 mi · Pleasanton 7 mi · Lower Frisco 20 mi · Rancho Grande 21 mi · Rivers 21 mi
All towns in New Mexico · 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 Alma (33.3845, -108.8944); 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.