borough in Pennsylvania
Honey bee forage in Jefferson, Pennsylvania
Estimated forage here is better than about 94% of sites in Pennsylvania. Against other Pennsylvania sites it stands out most in summer (96th percentile) and lowest in fall (17th). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (right here, grown 3 of the last 5 years); soybeans (nearest 0.2 mi NW, grown 4 of the last 5 years); sunflower (nearest 0.2 mi NW, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Jefferson?
- First forage: Mar 1 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jun 16 to Aug 15, peaking early Jul (soybeans)
- Season ends: Sep 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Jefferson, 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 25.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), garden flowers; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); 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
- Corn: about 572 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.2 mi NW, blooms late Jun – late Jul (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 96 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.2 mi NW, blooms early Jun – 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 Jefferson
Mostly: Northeastern Interior Dry-Mesic Oak Forest; Northern & Central Native Ruderal Forest; Eastern Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.22 mi NE; pond, lake or river 0.31 mi N.
How Jefferson ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 81st | 59th | 86th | 41st |
| Pennsylvania | 94th | 33rd | 96th | 17th |
| Northern Piedmont | 73rd | 11th | 93rd | 20th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 39% 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 Jefferson: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Spring Grove 5 mi · Seven Valleys 5 mi · Glen Rock 6 mi · New Salem 7 mi · Parkville 7 mi · Hanover 7 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 Jefferson (39.8123, -76.843); 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.