community in Pennsylvania
Honey bee forage in Smith Corner, Pennsylvania
Estimated forage here is better than about 34% of sites in Pennsylvania. Against other Pennsylvania sites it stands out most in spring (66th percentile) and lowest in summer (26th). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 0.8 mi N, grown 3 of the last 5 years); soybeans (nearest 2.2 mi W, grown 1 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 1.2 mi S, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Smith Corner?
- First forage: Mar 1 (early trees (maple, willow, poplar), dandelion)
- Main flow: Apr 1 to Jun 30, peaking early May (early trees (maple, willow, poplar), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Smith Corner, 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 5.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): early trees (maple, willow, poplar), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): summer-flowering shrubs, clovers: white, alsike and red, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), dandelion; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): early trees (maple, willow, poplar), clovers: white, alsike and red, summer-flowering shrubs, dandelion; 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 21 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.2 mi S, blooms early Jul – early Aug (grown 4 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 16 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.2 mi W, blooms late Jun – late 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 Smith Corner
Mostly: Northeastern Interior Dry-Mesic Oak Forest; Appalachian Northern Hardwood Forest; Northern & Central Native Ruderal Forest.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.04 mi S; pond, lake or river 0.16 mi NW.
How Smith Corner ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 41st | 66th | 43rd | 52nd |
| Pennsylvania | 34th | 66th | 26th | 57th |
| Ridge and Valley | 20th | 25th | 52nd | 81st |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 87% 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 Smith Corner: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Puzzletown 2 mi · East Freedom 3 mi · Leamersville 3 mi · Ski Gap 3 mi · McKee 3 mi · Brooks Mill 3 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 Smith Corner (40.3575, -78.4862); 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.