village in Michigan
Honey bee forage in Applegate, Michigan
Estimated forage here is better than about 85% of sites in Michigan. Against other Michigan sites it stands out most in fall (97th percentile) and lowest in spring (14th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (right here, grown 3 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.1 mi SE, grown 4 of the last 5 years); dry beans (right here, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Applegate?
- First forage: Apr 1 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Main flow: Jul 1 to Aug 31, peaking early Aug (soybeans)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Applegate, 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 May 17.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, dry Beans, alfalfa; water white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Fall honey (September to November): soybeans, dry Beans, alfalfa, clovers: white, alsike and red; white, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, dry Beans, clovers: white, alsike and red, 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 3,529 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.3 mi NE, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 490 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.1 mi SE, blooms late Jul – late Aug (grown 4 of the last 5 years)
- Dry beans: about 100 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.6 mi S, blooms late Jul – late Sep (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 Applegate
Mostly: Northern & Central Native Ruderal Forest; Soybeans; Northeastern North American Temperate Forest Plantation.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.04 mi N; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.13 mi SW.
How Applegate ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 87th | 38th | 90th | 95th |
| Michigan | 85th | 14th | 85th | 97th |
| Huron/Erie Lake Plains | 40th | 53rd | 40th | 87th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 33% 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 Applegate: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Carsonville 5 mi · Croswell 6 mi · Port Sanilac 7 mi · Lexington 8 mi · Sandusky 11 mi · Peck 11 mi
All towns in Michigan · 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 Applegate (43.3595, -82.6392); 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.