city in Michigan
Honey bee forage in Coleman, Michigan
Estimated forage here is better than about 92% of sites in Michigan. Against other Michigan sites it stands out most in fall (89th percentile) and lowest in spring (52nd). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.3 mi NE, grown 3 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.3 mi NE, grown 3 of the last 5 years); dry beans (nearest 0.6 mi E, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Coleman?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Jul 1 to Aug 31, peaking late Jul (soybeans)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Coleman, 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 15.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), summer-flowering shrubs; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, alfalfa, clovers: white, alsike and red; white, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, early trees (maple, willow, poplar); 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 3,620 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.6 mi W, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 4 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 423 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.7 mi W, blooms late Jul – late 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 Coleman
Mostly: Laurentian-Acadian Alkaline Conifer-Hardwood Swamp; Laurentian-Acadian Sub-boreal Aspen-Birch Forest; North-Central Interior and Appalachian Rich Swamp.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.25 mi W; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.25 mi SW.
How Coleman ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 89th | 64th | 89th | 79th |
| Michigan | 92nd | 52nd | 84th | 89th |
| Huron/Erie Lake Plains | 50th | 82nd | 37th | 75th |
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 Coleman: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Loomis 4 mi · Rosebush 10 mi · Beaverton 10 mi · Clare 10 mi · Sanford 12 mi · Mount Pleasant 15 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 Coleman (43.7592, -84.5869); 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.