community in Pennsylvania
Honey bee forage in Belfast, Pennsylvania
Estimated forage here is better than about 91% of sites in Pennsylvania. Against other Pennsylvania sites it stands out most in summer (90th percentile) and lowest in fall (77th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.5 mi E, grown 1 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.4 mi E, grown 4 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Belfast?
- First forage: Mar 1 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Aug 15, peaking early Jul (clovers: white, alsike and red, soybeans, dandelion)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Belfast, 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 3.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, soybeans, early trees (maple, willow, poplar); 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): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, soybeans, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar); 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 70 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.7 mi E, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 130 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.6 mi NE, 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 Belfast
Mostly: Northern & Central Native Ruderal Forest; Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns); Developed, low intensity (houses and yards).
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.3 mi SE; pond, lake or river 0.45 mi W.
How Belfast ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 78th | 73rd | 80th | 57th |
| Pennsylvania | 91st | 81st | 90th | 77th |
| Ridge and Valley | 91st | 42nd | 93rd | 93rd |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 46% 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 Belfast: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Stockertown 2 mi · Eastlawn Gardens 2 mi · Tatamy 3 mi · Nazareth 4 mi · Ackermanville 4 mi · Martins Creek 4 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 Belfast (40.7821, -75.2743); 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.