borough in Pennsylvania
Honey bee forage in Franklin, Pennsylvania
Estimated forage here is better than about 53% of sites in Pennsylvania. Against other Pennsylvania sites it stands out most in spring and fall (78th percentile) and lowest in summer (42nd). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 1.3 mi NW, grown 1 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 1.3 mi NW, grown 2 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 1.6 mi W, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Franklin?
- First forage: Mar 1 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Apr 1 to Jun 30, peaking early May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Fall flow: Jul 16 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 Franklin, 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, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), summer-flowering shrubs; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs, garden flowers; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, 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, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), summer-flowering shrubs; 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 2 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.3 mi NW, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 2 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.3 mi NW, blooms early Jul – early Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 2 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.6 mi W, blooms early Jun – late Aug (grown 2 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 Franklin
Mostly: Northern & Central Native Ruderal Forest; Appalachian Northern Hardwood Forest; Northeastern Interior Dry-Mesic Oak Forest.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.13 mi NW; pond, lake or river 0.14 mi NW.
How Franklin ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 52nd | 70th | 54th | 58th |
| Pennsylvania | 53rd | 78th | 42nd | 78th |
| Central Appalachians | 40th | 21st | 91st | 94th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 60% 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 Franklin: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
East Conemaugh 0 mi · Parkhill 1 mi · Daisytown 2 mi · Johnstown 2 mi · Dale 2 mi · Oakland 3 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 Franklin (40.342, -78.8838); 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.