community in New York
Honey bee forage in Cheektowaga, New York
Estimated forage here is better than about 55% of sites in New York. Against other New York sites it stands out most in fall (96th percentile) and lowest in spring (41st). Biggest nearby bee crops: alfalfa (nearest 1.3 mi SE, grown 1 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 3.5 mi S, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Cheektowaga?
- 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, garden flowers)
- Fall flow: Aug 16 to Sep 30 (garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Cheektowaga, 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, 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, garden flowers, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, dandelion; 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
- Alfalfa: about 4 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.3 mi SE, blooms late Jun – early Sep (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 2 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.5 mi S, blooms early Jul – early Aug (grown 2 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 Cheektowaga
Mostly: Developed, medium intensity; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Developed, high intensity (paved).
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.36 mi N; open water 0.48 mi N.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 90% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Cheektowaga ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 58th | 59th | 67th | 77th |
| New York | 55th | 41st | 63rd | 96th |
| Eastern Great Lakes Lowlands | 25th | 33rd | 30th | 91st |
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 Cheektowaga: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Depew 2 mi · Sloan 2 mi · Williamsville 3 mi · Lancaster 4 mi · Eggertsville 5 mi · West Seneca 5 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 Cheektowaga (42.909, -78.7508); 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.