community in New York
Honey bee forage in Cortland West, New York
Estimated forage here is better than about 87% of sites in New York. Against other New York sites it stands out most in fall (96th percentile) and lowest in spring (50th). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 0.2 mi N, grown 3 of the last 5 years); soybeans (nearest 0.2 mi N, grown 2 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 0.5 mi W, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Cortland West?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Aug 31, peaking late May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Cortland West, 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); extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, soybeans, alfalfa, dandelion; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, alfalfa, 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, alfalfa, soybeans; 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
- Corn: about 96 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.2 mi N, blooms late Jul – late Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 19 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.4 mi NE, blooms early Jul – early Sep (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 Cortland West
Mostly: Eastern Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland; Appalachian Northern Hardwood Forest; Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns).
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.17 mi SE; pond, lake or river 0.23 mi SW.
How Cortland West ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 74th | 62nd | 79th | 77th |
| New York | 87th | 50th | 90th | 96th |
| Northern Allegheny Plateau | 97th | 85th | 94th | 98th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 51% 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 Cortland West: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Munsons Corners 2 mi · Cortland 2 mi · Homer 4 mi · McLean 5 mi · Blodgett Mills 5 mi · Virgil 6 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 Cortland West (42.5942, -76.2259); 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.