community in Virginia
Honey bee forage in Union Level, Virginia
Estimated forage here is better than about 89% of sites in Virginia. Against other Virginia sites it stands out most in summer (95th percentile) and lowest in fall (8th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (right here, grown 1 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.1 mi SE, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Union Level?
- First forage: Feb 1 (early trees (maple, willow, poplar), dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Main flow: May 16 to Jul 31, peaking early Jun (soybeans)
- Season ends: Aug 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Union Level, 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 3.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), garden flowers; amber
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion; 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 122 acres in a typical year, nearest 0 mi N, blooms late May – late Jul (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 43 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.1 mi SE, blooms early Jun – early Jul (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 Union Level
Mostly: Southeastern Native Ruderal Forest; Southern Piedmont Mesic Forest; Southeastern North American Temperate Forest Plantation.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.06 mi W; open water 0.11 mi S.
How Union Level ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 74th | 74th | 78th | 8th |
| Virginia | 89th | 30th | 95th | 8th |
| Piedmont | 86th | 24th | 99th | 40th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 63% 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 Union Level: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Baskerville 3 mi · South Hill 6 mi · La Crosse 8 mi · Boydton 9 mi · Bracey 11 mi · Brodnax 11 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 Union Level (36.7071, -78.2318); 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.