village in New York
Honey bee forage in Cattaraugus, New York
Estimated forage here is better than about 34% of sites in New York. Against other New York sites it stands out most in fall (55th percentile) and lowest in summer (37th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 1.3 mi NW, grown 1 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.8 mi E, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Cattaraugus?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Jul 15, peaking late May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Fall flow: Aug 1 to Aug 15 (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Cattaraugus, 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 16.
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, summer-flowering shrubs, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra 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), summer-flowering shrubs; 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 31 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.6 mi SE, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 56 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.6 mi SE, blooms late Jul – late Aug (grown 3 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 Cattaraugus
Mostly: Appalachian Northern Hardwood Forest; Appalachian (Hemlock)-Northern Hardwood Forest; Eastern Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.07 mi NE; pond, lake or river 0.51 mi W.
How Cattaraugus ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 46th | 60th | 59th | 56th |
| New York | 34th | 41st | 37th | 55th |
| Northern Allegheny Plateau | 56th | 74th | 53rd | 42nd |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 78% 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 Cattaraugus: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Little Valley 7 mi · South Dayton 10 mi · Gowanda 10 mi · Ellicottville 11 mi · Perrysburg 11 mi · East Randolph 12 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 Cattaraugus (42.3298, -78.8675); 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.