community in New Mexico
Honey bee forage in Cannon AFB, New Mexico
Estimated forage here is better than about 99% of sites in New Mexico. Against other New Mexico sites it stands out most in spring (99th percentile) and lowest in fall (27th). Biggest nearby bee crops: sorghum (right here, grown 2 of the last 5 years); canola (nearest 1.6 mi SE, grown 1 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.9 mi E, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Cannon AFB?
- First forage: Feb 1 (dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Main flow: Mar 1 to Jun 30, peaking early Apr (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Fall flow: Jul 16 to Aug 15 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Cannon AFB, 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 30.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), garden flowers; light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), garden flowers; amber
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); extra 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
- Sorghum: about 201 acres in a typical year, nearest 1 mi NW, blooms early Jun – early Jul (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Canola: about 20 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.6 mi SE, blooms late Apr – early Jun (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 43 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.9 mi E, blooms early Jun – early Jul (grown 2 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 Cannon AFB
Mostly: Western Great Plains Shortgrass Prairie; Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns); Sorghum.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.65 mi E; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.74 mi SW.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 69% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Cannon AFB ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 67th | 83rd | 55th | 44th |
| New Mexico | 99th | 99th | 94th | 27th |
| High Plains | 88th | 99th | 29th | 33rd |
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 Cannon AFB: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Clovis 8 mi · Portales 14 mi · Texico 15 mi · Melrose 18 mi · Floyd 18 mi · Grady 30 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 Cannon AFB (34.3821, -103.3169); 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.