community in New York
Honey bee forage in Machias, New York
Estimated forage here is better than about 60% of sites in New York. Against other New York sites it stands out most in fall (92nd percentile) and lowest in spring (12th). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 0.1 mi S, grown 4 of the last 5 years); soybeans (nearest 0.1 mi S, grown 2 of the last 5 years); peas (nearest 0.2 mi N, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Machias?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: May 1 to Aug 31, peaking late Jul (clovers: white, alsike and red, soybeans, dandelion)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Machias, 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 20.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), peas; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, sunflower, dandelion; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, soybeans, dry Beans; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, soybeans, early trees (maple, willow, poplar); 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 424 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.6 mi NW, blooms late Jul – late Aug (grown 5 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 107 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.1 mi N, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Peas: about 24 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.5 mi SW, blooms late May – early Jul (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Sunflower: about 3 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.2 mi W, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 1 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 Machias
Mostly: Appalachian Northern Hardwood Forest; Appalachian (Hemlock)-Northern Hardwood Forest; Eastern Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0 mi S; open water 0 mi S.
How Machias ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 60th | 47th | 76th | 73rd |
| New York | 60th | 12th | 85th | 92nd |
| Northern Allegheny Plateau | 86th | 18th | 91st | 94th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 56% 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 Machias: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Lime Lake 1 mi · Delevan 5 mi · Franklinville 6 mi · West Valley 6 mi · Yorkshire 8 mi · Arcade 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 Machias (42.4136, -78.4871); 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.