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Michigan

Honey bee forage and the honey flow in Michigan

Across 745 towns in Michigan, the main honey flow typically runs from about May 1 to Jul 31, peaking around May 23. First forage worth flying for comes around Mar 16, and the season ends around Oct 15. Few towns show a dearth in a typical year.

What makes the honey in Michigan

Most common honey plants across the state's towns: clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, soybeans, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), alfalfa, garden flowers.

Most common bee crops within flight range of towns: soybeans, corn, alfalfa, cherries, dry beans, apples.

How the state's towns rank: the median town sits at the 76th percentile of random land across the US.

State-wide figures are medians over the towns below, each scored at its Census center point. Your own spot can differ a lot; check it.

The national forage map over Michigan: darker is more forage for honey bees. Tap anywhere for that spot's report, or open the national map.

Best and lowest of the state's sample

Of 3,000 random land points in Michigan: the best is near Brimley, MI (99th percentile in the US); the lowest is near Newberry, MI. All notable spots.

Every town in Michigan

745 cities, towns, villages, boroughs and census-designated communities, each with its honey flow dates, honey plants, bee crops and ranking.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

    A

    • Addison village · flow Jun 16 to Aug 31
    • Adrian city · flow Apr 16 to Aug 15
    • Advance community · flow Apr 16 to Jul 15
    • Ahmeek village · flow May 1 to Jul 15
    • Akron village · flow Jul 1 to Aug 31
    • Alanson village · flow Apr 16 to Jul 15
    • Alba community · flow Apr 16 to Jul 15
    • Albion city · flow Apr 16 to Aug 31
    • Alden community · flow Apr 16 to Jul 15
    • Algonac city · flow Apr 16 to Jul 15
    • Allegan city · flow Apr 16 to Aug 31
    • Allen village · flow Jul 1 to Aug 31
    • Allen Park city · flow Apr 16 to Jul 15
    • Allendale community · flow Jun 16 to Aug 31
    • Alma city · flow May 1 to Aug 31
    • Almont village · flow May 1 to Aug 31
    • Alpena city · flow May 1 to Jul 31
    • Alpha village · flow Apr 16 to Jul 15
    • Amasa community · flow Apr 16 to Jul 15
    • Ann Arbor city · flow Apr 16 to Jul 15
    • Applegate village · flow Jul 1 to Aug 31
    • Arcadia community · flow Apr 16 to Jul 15
    • Argentine community · flow Apr 16 to Aug 31
    • Armada village · flow Jun 16 to Aug 31
    • Ashley village · flow Jul 1 to Aug 31
    • Athens village · flow Jun 16 to Aug 31
    • Atlanta community · flow Apr 16 to Jul 15
    • Atlantic Mine community · flow May 1 to Jul 15
    • Attica community · flow May 1 to Aug 31
    • Au Gres city · flow May 1 to Sep 15
    • Au Sable community · flow Apr 16 to Jul 15
    • Auburn city · flow Jul 1 to Aug 31
    • Auburn Hills city · flow May 1 to Jul 15
    • Augusta village · flow Apr 1 to Jun 30

    B

    C

    D

    E

    F

    G

    H

    I

    J

    • Jackson city · flow May 1 to Jul 15
    • Jasper community · flow Jun 16 to Aug 31
    • Jenison community · flow Apr 16 to Jul 31
    • Jennings community · flow Apr 16 to Jul 15
    • Jonesville city · flow May 1 to Aug 31

    K

    L

    M

    N

    O

    • Oak Hill community · flow Apr 16 to Jul 15
    • Oak Park city · flow Apr 16 to Jul 15
    • Oakley village · flow Jul 1 to Aug 31
    • Oden community · flow Apr 16 to Jul 15
    • Okemos community · flow Apr 16 to Jul 15
    • Olivet city · flow May 1 to Aug 31
    • Omena community · flow May 1 to May 31
    • Omer city · flow Apr 16 to Aug 31
    • Onaway city · flow May 16 to Sep 15
    • Onekama village · flow May 1 to Jul 15
    • Onsted village · flow Jun 16 to Aug 31
    • Ontonagon village · flow May 1 to Jul 31
    • Orchard Lake Village city · flow Apr 16 to Jul 31
    • Ortonville village · flow Apr 16 to Jul 15
    • Oscoda community · flow Apr 16 to Jul 31
    • Ossineke community · flow Apr 16 to Jul 15
    • Otisville village · flow Apr 16 to Aug 31
    • Otsego city · flow Apr 16 to Aug 31
    • Otter Lake village · flow Apr 16 to Aug 31
    • Ovid city · flow Jun 16 to Aug 31
    • Owendale village · flow Jul 16 to Sep 15
    • Owosso city · flow May 1 to Aug 31
    • Oxford village · flow Apr 16 to Jul 15

    P

    Q

    • Quincy village · flow Jun 16 to Aug 31
    • Quinnesec community · flow Apr 16 to Jul 15

    R

    S

    T

    U

    • Ubly village · flow Jul 1 to Sep 15
    • Union City village · flow Jun 16 to Aug 31
    • Unionville village · flow Jul 16 to Sep 15
    • Utica city · flow May 1 to Jul 15

    V

    W

    Y

    • Yale city · flow Jul 1 to Aug 31
    • Ypsilanti city · flow Apr 16 to Jul 15

    Z

    • Zeba community · flow May 1 to Jul 15
    • Zeeland city · flow May 1 to Aug 31
    • Zilwaukee city · flow May 1 to Aug 31

    Estimates from public maps (USDA crop maps 2021–2025 averaged, LANDFIRE vegetation), not a survey of the ground. Benchmark 2026.5, built 2026-10-19. How this works · All sources · Other states.