community in New Jersey
Honey bee forage in Rutgers University-Busch Campus, New Jersey
Estimated forage here is better than about 88% of sites in New Jersey. Against other New Jersey sites it stands out most in spring (94th percentile) and lowest in summer (75th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 3.4 mi SW, grown 3 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 3.5 mi SW, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Rutgers University-Busch Campus?
- First forage: Mar 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Apr 1 to Jun 30, peaking late Apr (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Jul 16 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 Rutgers University-Busch Campus, 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 25.
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, summer-flowering shrubs; 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, 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
- Soybeans: about 5 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.5 mi NE, blooms early Jun – early Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 2 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.5 mi SW, blooms late Jun – late 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 Rutgers University-Busch Campus
Mostly: Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Developed, medium intensity; Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns).
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.08 mi W; open water 0.09 mi W.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 78% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Rutgers University-Busch Campus ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 82nd | 94th | 72nd | 70th |
| New Jersey | 88th | 94th | 75th | 91st |
| Northern Piedmont | 82nd | 88th | 51st | 93rd |
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 Rutgers University-Busch Campus: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Rutgers University-Livingston Campus 1 mi · East Franklin 2 mi · Somerset 2 mi · Highland Park 2 mi · New Brunswick 3 mi · Voorhees 3 mi
All towns in New Jersey · 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 Rutgers University-Busch Campus (40.5196, -74.4675); 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.