community in New Mexico
Honey bee forage in Anton Chico, New Mexico
Estimated forage here is better than about 93% of sites in New Mexico. Against other New Mexico sites it stands out most in spring and summer (87th percentile) and lowest in fall (51st). Biggest nearby bee crops: alfalfa (nearest 0.3 mi NE, grown 4 of the last 5 years); sorghum (nearest 1.5 mi NW, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Anton Chico?
- First forage: Feb 16 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion, native wildflowers)
- Main flow: Mar 16 to Jul 31, peaking late May (alfalfa, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), native wildflowers)
- Fall flow: Aug 16 to Aug 31 (fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Anton Chico, 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 9.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): alfalfa, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), native wildflowers, dandelion; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): alfalfa, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), rabbitbrush; amber
- Whole season (March to November): alfalfa, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), native wildflowers; 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
- Alfalfa: about 138 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.3 mi NE, blooms late May – early Aug (grown 4 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 Anton Chico
Mostly: Western Great Plains Shortgrass Prairie; Southern Rocky Mountain Pinyon-Juniper Woodland; Southern Rocky Mountain Juniper Woodland and Savanna.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.3 mi NE; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.33 mi NE.
How Anton Chico ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 38th | 58th | 45th | 63rd |
| New Mexico | 93rd | 87th | 87th | 51st |
| Southwestern Tablelands | 71st | 67th | 73rd | 29th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 77% 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 Anton Chico: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Llano del Medio 2 mi · Tecolotito 3 mi · Villanueva 13 mi · Sena 16 mi · Pueblo 19 mi · Tecolote 20 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 Anton Chico (35.1949, -105.1439); 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.