community in Virginia

Honey bee forage in Moorefield, Virginia

Estimated forage here is better than about 90% of sites in Virginia. Against other Virginia sites it stands out most in fall (99th percentile) and lowest in summer (83rd). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 2.3 mi S, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 1.2 mi E, grown 1 of the last 5 years).

When is the honey flow in Moorefield?

  • First forage: Feb 16 (dandelion)
  • Main flow: Mar 16 to Jun 30, peaking late Apr (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
  • Fall flow: Jul 16 to Aug 31 (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers)
  • Season ends: Sep 30
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Moorefield, 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 18.

What the honey is made of

  • Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, summer-flowering shrubs; 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 7 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.3 mi S, blooms early Jun – early Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
  • Corn: about 1 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.2 mi E, blooms late Jun – late Jul (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 Moorefield

Mostly: Developed, medium intensity; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Northern & Central Native Ruderal Forest.

Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.21 mi W; open water 0.25 mi E.

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 Moorefield ranks

Against random land inOverallSpringSummerFall
Continental US75th89th64th57th
Virginia90th88th83rd99th
Northern Piedmont47th76th30th64th

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 Moorefield: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.

Nearby

Loudoun Valley Estates 2 mi · Broadlands 2 mi · Ashburn 2 mi · Brambleton 2 mi · Goose Creek Village 4 mi · Kincora 4 mi

All towns in Virginia · 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 Moorefield (38.9983, -77.4927); 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.