borough in Pennsylvania
Honey bee forage in Rochester, Pennsylvania
Estimated forage here is better than about 54% of sites in Pennsylvania. Against other Pennsylvania sites it stands out most in fall (86th percentile) and lowest in summer (49th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 1.5 mi NW, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 1.5 mi NW, grown 3 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 2.1 mi NE, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Rochester?
- First forage: Mar 1 (dandelion)
- 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 Rochester, 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 28.
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, 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 14 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.5 mi NW, blooms early Jun – late Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 24 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.5 mi NW, blooms late Jun – late Jul (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 15 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.7 mi N, 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 Rochester
Mostly: Northeastern Interior Dry-Mesic Oak Forest; South-Central Interior Mesophytic Forest; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards).
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.25 mi S; open water 0.26 mi S.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 79% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Rochester ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 52nd | 67th | 58th | 61st |
| Pennsylvania | 54th | 69th | 49th | 86th |
| Western Allegheny Plateau | 10th | 6th | 68th | 97th |
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 Rochester: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
East Rochester 1 mi · Bridgewater 1 mi · Beaver 1 mi · Monaca 1 mi · Freedom 2 mi · Fallston 2 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 Rochester (40.7025, -80.2837); 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.