borough in Pennsylvania
Honey bee forage in Irwin, Pennsylvania
Estimated forage here is better than about 90% of sites in Pennsylvania. Against other Pennsylvania sites it stands out most in fall (95th percentile) and lowest in summer (75th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.9 mi NE, grown 3 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.9 mi NE, grown 2 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 1.0 mi S, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Irwin?
- First forage: Mar 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Apr 1 to Jul 15, peaking late Apr (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Aug 1 to Sep 15 (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Irwin, 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 27.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, lindens / basswood; 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, summer-flowering shrubs; 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; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, summer-flowering shrubs; 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 22 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.9 mi NE, blooms early Jun – late Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 15 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.9 mi NE, blooms late Jun – late Jul (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 9 acres in a typical year, nearest 1 mi S, blooms early Jun – late 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 Irwin
Mostly: Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); South-Central Interior Mesophytic Forest; Appalachian Northern Hardwood Forest.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.11 mi SW; pond, lake or river 0.26 mi N.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 88% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Irwin ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 78th | 87th | 71st | 66th |
| Pennsylvania | 90th | 94th | 75th | 95th |
| Western Allegheny Plateau | 91st | 42nd | 91st | 99th |
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 Irwin: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
North Irwin 1 mi · Manor 2 mi · Adamsburg 3 mi · Penn 3 mi · Harrison City 3 mi · Herminie 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 Irwin (40.3251, -79.6998); 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.