city in New York
Honey bee forage in Amsterdam, New York
Estimated forage here is better than about 71% of sites in New York. Against other New York sites it stands out most in fall (94th percentile) and lowest in spring (58th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 1.6 mi E, grown 1 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 1.2 mi N, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Amsterdam?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Jul 31, peaking early May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Aug 16 to Sep 30 (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Amsterdam, 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 13.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, lindens / basswood; 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, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers; extra 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 33 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.1 mi S, blooms late Jun – early Sep (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 40 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.8 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 Amsterdam
Mostly: Eastern Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland; Northern & Central Native Ruderal Forest; Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns).
Nearest mapped water: open water 0.19 mi SE; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.2 mi S.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 84% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Amsterdam ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 65th | 65th | 71st | 74th |
| New York | 71st | 58th | 73rd | 94th |
| Eastern Great Lakes Lowlands | 41st | 51st | 41st | 88th |
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 Amsterdam: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Hagaman 3 mi · Fort Johnson 3 mi · Tribes Hill 6 mi · Broadalbin 8 mi · Mariaville Lake 9 mi · Fultonville 9 mi
All towns in New York · 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 Amsterdam (42.9416, -74.1906); 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.