city in Michigan
Honey bee forage in Big Rapids, Michigan
Estimated forage here is better than about 47% of sites in Michigan. Against other Michigan sites it stands out most in fall (88th percentile) and lowest in spring (51st). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 1.8 mi S, grown 3 of the last 5 years); dry beans (nearest 1.2 mi SE, grown 1 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 0.5 mi W, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Big Rapids?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Jul 31, peaking late May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Aug 16 to Sep 15 (alfalfa, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Big Rapids, 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), garden flowers; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, alfalfa, dandelion, garden flowers; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, alfalfa; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, alfalfa, garden flowers; 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 52 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.8 mi S, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Dry beans: about 10 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.2 mi SE, blooms late Jul – late Sep (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 15 acres in a typical year, nearest 1 mi W, blooms late Jun – early Sep (grown 3 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 Big Rapids
Mostly: Laurentian-Acadian Northern Oak Forest; Laurentian-Acadian Northern Hardwoods Forest; Laurentian-Acadian Sub-boreal Aspen-Birch Forest.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.02 mi W; pond, lake or river 0.25 mi E.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 83% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Big Rapids ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 69th | 64th | 74th | 78th |
| Michigan | 47th | 51st | 56th | 88th |
| Northern Lakes and Forests | 76th | 41st | 87th | 96th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 34% 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 Big Rapids: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Paris 6 mi · Stanwood 8 mi · Hersey 11 mi · Reed City 12 mi · Canadian Lakes 12 mi · Mecosta 14 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 Big Rapids (43.6997, -85.4813); 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.