city in Michigan
Honey bee forage in Belding, Michigan
Estimated forage here is better than about 61% of sites in Michigan. Against other Michigan sites it stands out most in fall (88th percentile) and lowest in summer (61st). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 1.1 mi SW, grown 1 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 1.3 mi S, grown 2 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 1.5 mi W).
When is the honey flow in Belding?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Aug 15, peaking early May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Sep 1 to Sep 15 (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Belding, 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 12.
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): clovers: white, alsike and red, soybeans, dandelion, alfalfa; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, soybeans; 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 236 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.6 mi W, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 663 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.5 mi W, blooms early Jul – early Aug (grown 1 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 Belding
Mostly: North-Central Interior Dry Oak Forest and Woodland; Northeastern North American Temperate Forest Plantation; North-Central Interior and Appalachian Rich Swamp.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.12 mi NW; open water 0.12 mi NW.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 70% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Belding ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 76th | 70th | 77th | 79th |
| Michigan | 61st | 67th | 61st | 88th |
| Southern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift Plains | 19th | 77th | 17th | 90th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 42% 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 Belding: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Greenville 6 mi · Sheridan 11 mi · Ionia 12 mi · Saranac 12 mi · Palo 12 mi · Cannonsburg 13 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 Belding (43.0965, -85.233); 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.