city in Oregon
Honey bee forage in Philomath, Oregon
Estimated forage here is better than about 82% of sites in Oregon. Against other Oregon sites it stands out most in spring (83rd percentile) and lowest in fall (30th). Biggest nearby bee crops: dry beans (nearest 0.9 mi S, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.9 mi S, grown 1 of the last 5 years); peas (nearest 1.9 mi SE, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Philomath?
- First forage: Feb 16 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, maples)
- Main flow: Mar 1 to Jun 15, peaking late Apr (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Jul 1 to Jul 31 (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Philomath, 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 10.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs, maples; 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, spotted and diffuse knapweed; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, spotted and diffuse knapweed, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; light amber, likely to set over some months
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs, 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
- Dry beans: about 6 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.9 mi S, blooms early Jun – early Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 4 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.9 mi S, blooms late Jun – early Aug (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Peas: about 10 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.9 mi SE, blooms late Apr – late May (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 Philomath
Mostly: Western Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland; North Pacific Maritime Dry-Mesic Douglas-fir-Western Hemlock Forest; North Pacific Dry Douglas-fir-(Madrone) Forest and Woodland.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.25 mi E; pond, lake or river 0.33 mi NW.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 59% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Philomath ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 89th | 98th | 72nd | 38th |
| Oregon | 82nd | 83rd | 62nd | 30th |
| Willamette Valley | 39th | 42nd | 52nd | 87th |
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 Philomath: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Corvallis 4 mi · Blodgett 9 mi · Peoria 10 mi · Kings Valley 11 mi · Adair Village 11 mi · Bellfountain 12 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 Philomath (44.542, -123.3595); 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.