city in Michigan
Honey bee forage in Buchanan, Michigan
Estimated forage here is better than about 90% of sites in Michigan. Against other Michigan sites it stands out most in spring (96th percentile) and lowest in summer (74th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.7 mi NW, grown 3 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.6 mi NW, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Buchanan?
- First forage: Mar 1 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Aug 15, peaking early May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, soybeans)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Buchanan, 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 6.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, soybeans, early trees (maple, willow, poplar); light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, 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, 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, soybeans, garden flowers; 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 410 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.2 mi W, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 375 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.6 mi NW, blooms early Jul – early Aug (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 Buchanan
Mostly: North-Central Interior Beech-Maple Forest; Corn; Soybeans.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.2 mi E; pond, lake or river 0.36 mi E.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 75% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Buchanan ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 88th | 87th | 85th | 72nd |
| Michigan | 90th | 96th | 74th | 79th |
| Southern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift Plains | 78th | 97th | 40th | 77th |
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 Buchanan: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Niles 6 mi · Galien 7 mi · Berrien Springs 8 mi · New Troy 10 mi · Baroda 11 mi · Eau Claire 12 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 Buchanan (41.8283, -86.366); 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.