city in Ohio
Honey bee forage in Niles, Ohio
Estimated forage here is better than about 44% of sites in Ohio. Against other Ohio sites it stands out most in fall (99th percentile) and lowest in summer (38th). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 2.3 mi NE, grown 1 of the last 5 years); soybeans (nearest 2.2 mi NE, grown 4 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 3.6 mi W).
When is the honey flow in Niles?
- 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)
- Fall flow: Aug 1 to Sep 15 (garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Niles, 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 4.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, 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, garden flowers, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; 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
- Corn: about 205 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.1 mi W, blooms early Jul – early Aug (grown 5 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 12 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.2 mi NE, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 4 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 Niles
Mostly: Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns); Northern & Central Native Ruderal Forest.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.32 mi W; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.34 mi W.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 94% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Niles ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 83rd | 89th | 76th | 80th |
| Ohio | 44th | 75th | 38th | 99th |
| Erie Drift Plain | 72nd | 94th | 50th | 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 Niles: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
McKinley Heights 2 mi · Hilltop 2 mi · Bolindale 2 mi · McDonald 2 mi · Girard 3 mi · Mineral Ridge 3 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 Niles (41.1878, -80.7531); 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.