city in New York
Honey bee forage in Olean, New York
Estimated forage here is better than about 78% of sites in New York. Against other New York sites it stands out most in fall (96th percentile) and lowest in spring (63rd). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 1.8 mi SE, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 1.8 mi N, grown 3 of the last 5 years); dry beans (nearest 1.8 mi N, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Olean?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion)
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Jul 31, peaking late May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Aug 16 to Sep 15 (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Olean, 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 15.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, lindens / basswood; 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; 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
- Soybeans: about 11 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.8 mi SE, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 11 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.8 mi N, blooms late Jul – late Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Dry beans: about 4 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.8 mi N, blooms late Jul – late 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 Olean
Mostly: Appalachian Northern Hardwood Forest; Appalachian (Hemlock)-Northern Hardwood Forest; Eastern Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland.
Nearest mapped water: open water 0.16 mi E; pond, lake or river 0.44 mi NE.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 87% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Olean ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 69th | 67th | 73rd | 77th |
| New York | 78th | 63rd | 77th | 96th |
| North Central Appalachians | 100th | 96th | 100th | 100th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 35% 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 Olean: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
St. Bonaventure 2 mi · Allegany 3 mi · Weston Mills 3 mi · Portville 6 mi · Limestone 11 mi · Cuba 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 Olean (42.0839, -78.4351); 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.