community in Michigan
Honey bee forage in Benton Heights, Michigan
Estimated forage here is better than about 82% of sites in Michigan. Against other Michigan sites it stands out most in spring (96th percentile) and lowest in summer (66th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.8 mi SW, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.8 mi SW, grown 2 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 1.3 mi NE).
When is the honey flow in Benton Heights?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Jul 15, peaking early May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Aug 1 to Aug 31 (soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Benton Heights, 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 9.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), garden flowers; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, soybeans, dandelion, garden flowers; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); 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 40 acres in a typical year, nearest 1 mi SE, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 34 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.8 mi SW, blooms early Jul – 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 Benton Heights
Mostly: Open water; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns).
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.1 mi S; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.35 mi E.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 80% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Benton Heights ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 86th | 87th | 80th | 82nd |
| Michigan | 82nd | 96th | 66th | 91st |
| Southern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift Plains | 60th | 97th | 26th | 93rd |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
The national forage map around Benton Heights: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Benton Harbor 2 mi · Fair Plain 3 mi · Millburg 4 mi · St. Joseph 4 mi · Lake Michigan Beach 6 mi · Shoreham 7 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 Benton Heights (42.1222, -86.4151); 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.