city in Kentucky
Honey bee forage in Fincastle, Kentucky
Estimated forage here is better than about 77% of sites in Kentucky. Against other Kentucky sites it stands out most in fall (99th percentile) and lowest in summer (65th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 1.3 mi NE, grown 4 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 1.3 mi NE, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Fincastle?
- First forage: Feb 16 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Mar 16 to Jun 15, peaking early Apr (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Jul 1 to Aug 31 (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Fincastle, 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 12.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, lindens / basswood; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, soybeans; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, lindens / basswood; 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
- Soybeans: about 66 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.3 mi NE, blooms late May – early Aug (grown 4 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 16 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.3 mi NE, blooms early Jun – early Jul (grown 1 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 Fincastle
Mostly: Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns); Southern Interior Low Plateau Dry-Mesic Oak Forest.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.02 mi S; pond, lake or river 0.51 mi SE.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 96% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Fincastle ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 83rd | 96th | 67th | 52nd |
| Kentucky | 77th | 97th | 65th | 99th |
| Interior Plateau | 81st | 94th | 66th | 98th |
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 Fincastle: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Worthington Hills 1 mi · Coldstream 1 mi · Orchard Grass Hills 1 mi · Creekside 2 mi · Hickory Hill 2 mi · Ten Broeck 2 mi
All towns in Kentucky · 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 Fincastle (38.3082, -85.5415); 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.