community in Pennsylvania
Honey bee forage in New Columbia, Pennsylvania
Estimated forage here is better than about 85% of sites in Pennsylvania. Against other Pennsylvania sites it stands out most in summer (91st percentile) and lowest in spring and fall (58th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.2 mi N, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.6 mi N).
When is the honey flow in New Columbia?
- First forage: Mar 1 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Jun 16 to Aug 15, peaking early Jul (soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of New Columbia, 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, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); 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): 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
- Soybeans: about 542 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.2 mi S, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 1,195 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.2 mi S, blooms early Jul – early 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 New Columbia
Mostly: Northern & Central Native Ruderal Forest; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Corn.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.1 mi SE; open water 0.1 mi SE.
How New Columbia ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 75th | 64th | 81st | 53rd |
| Pennsylvania | 85th | 58th | 91st | 58th |
| Ridge and Valley | 85th | 21st | 94th | 82nd |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 40% 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 New Columbia: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
West Milton 1 mi · Milton 3 mi · Watsontown 3 mi · McEwensville 4 mi · Allenwood 5 mi · Dewart 5 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 New Columbia (41.0375, -76.8782); 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.