borough in Pennsylvania
Honey bee forage in State College, Pennsylvania
Estimated forage here is better than about 97% of sites in Pennsylvania. Against other Pennsylvania sites it stands out most in fall (100th percentile) and lowest in summer (88th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 1.0 mi SE, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 1.1 mi SE, grown 3 of the last 5 years); pumpkins (nearest 1.8 mi S, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in State College?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Apr 1 to Jul 31, peaking early May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Aug 16 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 State College, 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): garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, 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
- Soybeans: about 255 acres in a typical year, nearest 1 mi SE, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 383 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.1 mi SE, blooms early Jul – early Aug (grown 3 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 State College
Mostly: Northeastern Interior Dry-Mesic Oak Forest; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns).
Nearest mapped water: open water 0.58 mi SE; pond, lake or river 0.59 mi NW.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 99% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
- Bee crops nearby that are often sprayed. Pumpkins: insecticides used on about 75% of surveyed US acres (2024). Figures are from USDA's Agricultural Chemical Use Survey, matched by crop type from the crop map. The survey counts any insecticide use in the crop year (not seed treatments) and doesn't say when; ask nearby growers about spray timing.
How State College ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 83rd | 84th | 79th | 77th |
| Pennsylvania | 97th | 92nd | 88th | 100th |
| Ridge and Valley | 97th | 66th | 92nd | 100th |
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 State College: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Lemont 3 mi · Toftrees 3 mi · Park Forest Village 3 mi · Houserville 3 mi · Boalsburg 4 mi · Pine Grove Mills 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 State College (40.791, -77.8568); 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.