city in New York
Honey bee forage in Rensselaer, New York
Estimated forage here is better than about 57% of sites in New York. Against other New York sites it stands out most in fall (84th percentile) and lowest in summer (44th). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 2.7 mi S, grown 3 of the last 5 years); soybeans (nearest 2.7 mi SW, grown 1 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 2.6 mi SE, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Rensselaer?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Apr 1 to Jul 15, peaking early May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Rensselaer, 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 7.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), garden flowers; 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, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); 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
- Corn: about 26 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.9 mi SW, blooms early Jul – early Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 7 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.8 mi SW, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 3 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.6 mi SE, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 3 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 Rensselaer
Mostly: Developed, medium intensity; Northeastern Interior Dry-Mesic Oak Forest; Developed, high intensity (paved).
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.15 mi W; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.46 mi N.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 65% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Rensselaer ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 58th | 69th | 62nd | 67th |
| New York | 57th | 70th | 44th | 84th |
| Northeastern Coastal Zone | 68th | 61st | 70th | 80th |
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 Rensselaer: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Hampton Manor 2 mi · Menands 3 mi · Albany 4 mi · East Greenbush 4 mi · Loudonville 5 mi · Roessleville 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 Rensselaer (42.6457, -73.7325); 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.