city in Ohio
Honey bee forage in Bellefontaine, Ohio
Estimated forage here is better than about 56% of sites in Ohio. Against other Ohio sites it stands out most in fall (96th percentile) and lowest in summer (50th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.9 mi SW, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.9 mi SW, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Bellefontaine?
- First forage: Mar 1 (dandelion)
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Aug 15, peaking late Jun (clovers: white, alsike and red, soybeans, dandelion)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Bellefontaine, 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 1.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, soybeans, garden flowers; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, 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, soybeans, dandelion, garden flowers; 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 3,731 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.9 mi SW, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 353 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.9 mi SW, blooms early Jul – early 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 Bellefontaine
Mostly: Corn; North-Central Interior Beech-Maple Forest; Soybeans.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.33 mi N; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.48 mi N.
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 Bellefontaine ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 88th | 84th | 86th | 69th |
| Ohio | 56th | 65th | 50th | 96th |
| Eastern Corn Belt Plains | 20th | 89th | 14th | 98th |
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 Bellefontaine: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Zanesfield 5 mi · Valley Hi 6 mi · Huntsville 6 mi · West Liberty 7 mi · Lewistown 8 mi · Rushsylvania 8 mi
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 Bellefontaine (40.3625, -83.7628); 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.