Queens often go off lay for quite a few weeks at this time of year when income dries up, and as late summer bees are really winter bees, an absence of brood in this period will weaken the winter colony.
Balsam will produce variably until the frosts so long as its feet stay damp, and gardens will bring in a little - goldenrod is in flower now - but though this will not produce surplus honey, it may feed bees & keep the queen laying.
Better to have been given a choice than an edict: take the honey if you wish. Half a super is about 5.5kg which is nowhere near enough for winter, so you'll feed anyway later on.