city in Texas
Honey bee forage in Hereford, Texas
Estimated forage here is better than about 89% of sites in Texas. Against other Texas sites it stands out most in spring (94th percentile) and lowest in fall (57th). Biggest nearby bee crops: sorghum (nearest 1.2 mi SE, grown 2 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 1.6 mi N); corn (nearest 1.3 mi SE, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Hereford?
- First forage: Feb 16 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Mar 1 to Jun 30, peaking early Apr (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Jul 16 to Aug 15 (garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Hereford, 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 4.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), garden flowers; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), cotton; amber, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); 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
- Sorghum: about 283 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.4 mi W, blooms early Jun – early Jul (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 211 acres in a typical year, nearest 2 mi N, blooms late May – late 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 Hereford
Mostly: Western Great Plains Shortgrass Prairie; Winter Wheat; Great Plains Comanchian Ruderal Grassland.
Nearest mapped water: open water 0.46 mi NE; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.78 mi SE.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 95% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Hereford ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 79th | 94th | 65th | 46th |
| Texas | 89th | 94th | 92nd | 57th |
| High Plains | 96th | 100th | 48th | 35th |
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 Hereford: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Summerfield 8 mi · Umbarger 19 mi · Dimmitt 20 mi · Friona 22 mi · Nazareth 26 mi · Wildorado 29 mi
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 Hereford (34.8226, -102.4002); 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.