village in Michigan
Honey bee forage in Clifford, Michigan
Estimated forage here is better than about 96% of sites in Michigan. Against other Michigan sites it stands out most in fall (95th percentile) and lowest in spring (24th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.1 mi NE, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.1 mi NE, grown 3 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 0.1 mi W).
When is the honey flow in Clifford?
- 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 late Jul (soybeans, alfalfa)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Clifford, 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 16.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), early trees (maple, willow, poplar); extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, alfalfa; white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Fall honey (September to November): soybeans, alfalfa, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, alfalfa; 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 6,530 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.2 mi SW, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 568 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.2 mi SW, blooms late Jul – late Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 93 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.1 mi W, blooms late Jun – early Sep (grown 5 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 Clifford
Mostly: Soybeans; North-Central Interior and Appalachian Rich Swamp; Eastern Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.19 mi S; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.2 mi SW.
How Clifford ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 91st | 47th | 92nd | 89th |
| Michigan | 96th | 24th | 91st | 95th |
| Southern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift Plains | 91st | 35th | 77th | 98th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 37% 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 Clifford: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Marlette 5 mi · North Branch 6 mi · Kingston 7 mi · Mayville 9 mi · Fostoria 10 mi · Barnes Lake 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 Clifford (43.3151, -83.1796); 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.