community in Pennsylvania
Honey bee forage in Oakland, Pennsylvania
Estimated forage here is better than about 96% of sites in Pennsylvania. Against other Pennsylvania sites it stands out most in fall (100th percentile) and lowest in summer (81st). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 1.0 mi SW, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 1.0 mi SW, grown 1 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 1.6 mi SW, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Oakland?
- First forage: Mar 1 (dandelion)
- Main flow: Apr 1 to Jul 15, peaking early May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Aug 1 to Aug 31 (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Oakland, 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, 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, soybeans; 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, 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 29 acres in a typical year, nearest 1 mi SW, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 16 acres in a typical year, nearest 1 mi SW, blooms early Jul – early Aug (grown 1 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 Oakland
Mostly: Appalachian Northern Hardwood Forest; Northern & Central Native Ruderal Forest; Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns).
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.11 mi W; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.25 mi NE.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 76% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Oakland ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 82nd | 89th | 74th | 72nd |
| Pennsylvania | 96th | 96th | 81st | 100th |
| Erie Drift Plain | 68th | 95th | 46th | 93rd |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 30% 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 Oakland: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Oakwood 1 mi · New Castle 1 mi · South New Castle 2 mi · New Castle Northwest 2 mi · Edinburg 3 mi · Mount Jackson 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 Oakland (40.9916, -80.3721); 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.