city in Massachusetts
Honey bee forage in Westfield, Massachusetts
Estimated forage here is better than about 95% of sites in Massachusetts. Against other Massachusetts sites it stands out most in summer (94th percentile) and lowest in fall (84th). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 0.5 mi S, grown 4 of the last 5 years); soybeans (nearest 0.5 mi S, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Westfield?
- First forage: Mar 1 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Apr 1 to Jul 15, peaking early May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Aug 1 to Aug 15 (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Westfield, 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 May 6.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), summer-flowering shrubs; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, summer-flowering shrubs; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, 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, summer-flowering shrubs; 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
- Corn: about 247 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.6 mi W, blooms early Jul – early Aug (grown 4 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 25 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.8 mi W, blooms late Jun – late Aug (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 Westfield
Mostly: Central Appalachian Dry Oak Forest; Central Appalachian Dry Oak-Pine Forest; Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns).
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.15 mi S; pond, lake or river 0.36 mi NW.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 62% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Westfield ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 71st | 79th | 68th | 69th |
| Massachusetts | 95th | 89th | 94th | 84th |
| Northeastern Coastal Zone | 90th | 87th | 89th | 84th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 35% 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 Westfield: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
West Springfield Town 6 mi · Russell 7 mi · Agawam Town 7 mi · Holyoke 8 mi · Blandford 9 mi · Easthampton 10 mi
All towns in Massachusetts · 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 Westfield (42.1388, -72.7559); 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.