community in Pennsylvania
Honey bee forage in Atkinson Mills, Pennsylvania
Estimated forage here is better than about 74% of sites in Pennsylvania. Against other Pennsylvania sites it stands out most in summer (80th percentile) and lowest in fall (55th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (right here, grown 4 of the last 5 years); corn (right here, grown 4 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Atkinson Mills?
- First forage: Feb 16 (early trees (maple, willow, poplar), dandelion)
- Main flow: Apr 1 to Aug 15, peaking early Jul (soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Atkinson Mills, 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): early trees (maple, willow, poplar), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, soybeans; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), summer-flowering shrubs; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); light amber, likely to set over some months
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), dandelion; 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 33 acres in a typical year, nearest 0 mi , blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 4 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 30 acres in a typical year, nearest 0 mi , blooms early Jul – early 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 Atkinson Mills
Mostly: Northeastern Interior Dry-Mesic Oak Forest; Northern & Central Native Ruderal Forest; Appalachian Northern Hardwood Forest.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.13 mi SW; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.14 mi W.
How Atkinson Mills ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 67th | 67th | 74th | 52nd |
| Pennsylvania | 74th | 70th | 80th | 55th |
| Ridge and Valley | 70th | 29th | 88th | 80th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 68% of the land here is scored with national averages for its vegetation type rather than measured plant cover, so the wild-plant part of this estimate is rougher than the crop part.
The national forage map around Atkinson Mills: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Newton Hamilton 4 mi · McVeytown 5 mi · Mattawana 5 mi · Allensville 6 mi · Cedar Crest 6 mi · Kistler 6 mi
All towns in Pennsylvania · 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 Atkinson Mills (40.4493, -77.8034); 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.