community in Ohio
Honey bee forage in Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
Estimated forage here is better than about 45% of sites in Ohio. Against other Ohio sites it stands out most in fall (94th percentile) and lowest in summer (34th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 1.2 mi W, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 1.3 mi W, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Wright-Patterson AFB?
- First forage: Mar 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Apr 1 to Jun 30, peaking late Apr (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Jul 16 to Aug 15 (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, soybeans)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Wright-Patterson AFB, 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 Apr 24.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, soybeans; 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, 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, soybeans; 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 256 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.2 mi W, blooms early Jun – early Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 209 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.7 mi NW, blooms late Jun – late Jul (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 Wright-Patterson AFB
Mostly: Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns); Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Developed, medium intensity.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.49 mi NW; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.51 mi NW.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 91% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Wright-Patterson AFB ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 84th | 94th | 74th | 65th |
| Ohio | 45th | 91st | 34th | 94th |
| Eastern Corn Belt Plains | 8th | 96th | 5th | 96th |
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 Wright-Patterson AFB: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Fairborn 3 mi · Huber Heights 4 mi · Park Layne 5 mi · Medway 5 mi · Crystal Lakes 5 mi · Riverside 5 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 Wright-Patterson AFB (39.8228, -84.0485); 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.