community in South Carolina
Honey bee forage in Utica, South Carolina
Estimated forage here is better than about 81% of sites in South Carolina. Against other South Carolina sites it stands out most in spring (89th percentile) and lowest in fall (70th). Biggest nearby bee crops: cotton (nearest 3.3 mi W, grown 1 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 3.4 mi W, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Utica?
- First forage: Jan 16 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Feb 16 to May 15, peaking late Mar (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Jun 1 to Jun 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 Utica, 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 Mar 18.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), summer-flowering shrubs; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); amber
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); 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
- Cotton: about 10 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.3 mi W, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 2 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.4 mi W, blooms late May – late Jun (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 Utica
Mostly: Southern Piedmont Dry Oak Forest; Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns); Open water.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.3 mi E; pond, lake or river 0.46 mi NW.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 57% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Utica ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 76th | 95th | 38th | 24th |
| South Carolina | 81st | 89th | 77th | 70th |
| Piedmont | 89th | 91st | 63rd | 88th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 49% 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 Utica: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Seneca 2 mi · Newry 3 mi · Clemson University 5 mi · Clemson 7 mi · Pendleton 9 mi · West Union 9 mi
All towns in South Carolina · 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 Utica (34.6762, -82.9247); 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.