city in Alabama
Honey bee forage in Marion, Alabama
Estimated forage here is better than about 79% of sites in Alabama. Against other Alabama sites it stands out most in spring (87th percentile) and lowest in fall (55th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 3.2 mi SW, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 3.4 mi S, grown 2 of the last 5 years); cotton (nearest 3.4 mi S, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Marion?
- First forage: Jan 16 (dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Feb 1 to May 15, peaking early Mar (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, summer-flowering trees (locust, linden))
- Fall flow: Jun 1 to Jun 30 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Aug 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Marion, 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 9.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), summer-flowering trees (locust, linden), dandelion; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); amber
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), summer-flowering trees (locust, linden), 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 59 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.2 mi SW, blooms late Apr – late Jun (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 31 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.4 mi S, blooms early May – early Jun (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Cotton: about 30 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.4 mi S, blooms late Jun – early Aug (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 Marion
Mostly: Southeastern Native Ruderal Forest; Southeastern North American Temperate Forest Plantation; East Gulf Coastal Plain Northern Dry Upland Hardwood Forest.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.28 mi N; pond, lake or river 0.29 mi E.
How Marion ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 69th | 93rd | 27th | 14th |
| Alabama | 79th | 87th | 71st | 55th |
| Southeastern Plains | 73rd | 87th | 56th | 57th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 68% 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 Marion: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Newbern 13 mi · Uniontown 16 mi · Greensboro 17 mi · Valley Grande 19 mi · Faunsdale 20 mi · Selma 22 mi
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 Marion (32.632, -87.3173); 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.