community in New Hampshire
Honey bee forage in Exeter, New Hampshire
Estimated forage here is better than about 89% of sites in New Hampshire. Against other New Hampshire sites it stands out most in fall (97th percentile) and lowest in summer (78th). Biggest nearby bee crops: alfalfa (nearest 1.8 mi NE, grown 4 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 1.6 mi NE, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Exeter?
- First forage: Mar 1 (early trees (maple, willow, poplar), dandelion)
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Jul 15, peaking early May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Exeter, 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 12.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, 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, summer-flowering shrubs, garden flowers; 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, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), garden flowers; 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
- Alfalfa: about 18 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.8 mi NE, blooms late Jun – early Sep (grown 4 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 7 acres in a typical year, nearest 2 mi S, blooms early Jul – early Aug (grown 4 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 Exeter
Mostly: Central Appalachian Dry Pine Forest; Central Appalachian Dry Oak-Pine Forest; Central Appalachian Dry Oak Forest.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.04 mi NE; open water 0.04 mi NE.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 59% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Exeter ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 58th | 68th | 63rd | 63rd |
| New Hampshire | 89th | 85th | 78th | 97th |
| Northeastern Coastal Zone | 67th | 59th | 72nd | 70th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 49% 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 Exeter: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Newfields 4 mi · Hampton 6 mi · Newmarket 7 mi · Hampton Beach 8 mi · Epping 9 mi · Seabrook Beach 9 mi
All towns in New Hampshire · 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 Exeter (42.977, -70.9455); 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.