city in New York
Honey bee forage in Ithaca, New York
Estimated forage here is better than about 74% of sites in New York. Against other New York sites it stands out most in fall (96th percentile) and lowest in spring (64th). Biggest nearby bee crops: buckwheat (nearest 1.6 mi NW, grown 1 of the last 5 years); soybeans (nearest 1.7 mi W, grown 1 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 1.6 mi NW, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Ithaca?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Jul 15, peaking early May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Aug 1 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 Ithaca, 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 11.
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, 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, buckwheat; 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
- Buckwheat: about 9 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.6 mi NW, blooms early Jul – early Oct (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 44 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.1 mi NW, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 55 acres in a typical year, nearest 2 mi W, 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 Ithaca
Mostly: Appalachian Northern Hardwood Forest; Eastern Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland; Appalachian (Hemlock)-Northern Hardwood Forest.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.21 mi NE; pond, lake or river 0.38 mi W.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 88% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Ithaca ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 66th | 67th | 70th | 77th |
| New York | 74th | 64th | 71st | 96th |
| Northern Allegheny Plateau | 92nd | 96th | 82nd | 97th |
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 Ithaca: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Cayuga Heights 2 mi · Forest Home 2 mi · Northwest Ithaca 2 mi · South Hill 2 mi · East Ithaca 3 mi · Northeast Ithaca 3 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 Ithaca (42.4439, -76.5031); 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.