community in Pennsylvania
Honey bee forage in Slippery Rock University, Pennsylvania
Estimated forage here is better than about 84% of sites in Pennsylvania. Spring, summer and fall all rank about the same against other Pennsylvania sites. Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 0.5 mi N, grown 4 of the last 5 years); soybeans (nearest 0.7 mi E, grown 2 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 0.4 mi N, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Slippery Rock University?
- First forage: Mar 1 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Apr 1 to Aug 15, peaking early May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, alfalfa)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Slippery Rock University, 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 6.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): alfalfa, clovers: white, alsike and red, soybeans, dandelion; 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, alfalfa, soybeans; 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 23 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.7 mi E, blooms early Jul – early Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 16 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.9 mi E, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 17 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.6 mi SE, blooms late 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 Slippery Rock University
Mostly: Appalachian Northern Hardwood Forest; Northeastern Interior Dry-Mesic Oak Forest; Northern & Central Native Ruderal Forest.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0 mi S; pond, lake or river 0.41 mi N.
How Slippery Rock University ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 74th | 74th | 75th | 63rd |
| Pennsylvania | 84th | 83rd | 83rd | 90th |
| Western Allegheny Plateau | 79th | 12th | 95th | 98th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 53% 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 Slippery Rock University: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Slippery Rock 1 mi · Forestville 3 mi · West Liberty 4 mi · Harrisville 5 mi · Grove City 7 mi · Boyers 8 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 Slippery Rock University (41.0647, -80.0419); 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.