community in New Mexico
Honey bee forage in Hillsboro, New Mexico
Estimated forage here is better than about 78% of sites in New Mexico. Against other New Mexico sites it stands out most in spring (86th percentile) and lowest in summer (58th). Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow, less than 0.1 mi away.
When is the honey flow in Hillsboro?
- First forage: Feb 1 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), native wildflowers, dandelion)
- Main flow: Mar 1 to Jun 15, peaking early Apr (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), native wildflowers)
- Fall flow: Jul 1 to Oct 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 Hillsboro, 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 28.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), native wildflowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; 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); 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), native wildflowers, clovers: white, alsike and red; 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
No rated bee crops within about 3.7 miles of the town center. The forage here is wild plants, trees and gardens.
The land and water around Hillsboro
Mostly: Apacherian-Chihuahuan Semi-Desert Shrub-Steppe; Apacherian-Chihuahuan Semi-Desert Grassland; Chihuahuan Mixed Desert and Thornscrub.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.08 mi NE; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.13 mi N.
How Hillsboro ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 28th | 57th | 28th | 72nd |
| New Mexico | 78th | 86th | 58th | 65th |
| Chihuahuan Deserts | 84th | 77th | 96th | 93rd |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 94% 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 Hillsboro: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Kingston 8 mi · Oasis 15 mi · Arrey 16 mi · Caballo 16 mi · Las Palomas 19 mi · Williamsburg 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 Hillsboro (32.9218, -107.5772); 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.