city in Michigan
Honey bee forage in Croswell, Michigan
Estimated forage here is better than about 91% of sites in Michigan. Against other Michigan sites it stands out most in fall (95th percentile) and lowest in spring (46th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.4 mi SE, grown 3 of the last 5 years); dry beans (nearest 0.8 mi NE, grown 3 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.5 mi N, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Croswell?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Jul 1 to Aug 31, peaking late Jul (soybeans)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Croswell, 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): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, alfalfa; white, likely to set over some months
- 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, 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 2,843 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.5 mi E, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Dry beans: about 51 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.8 mi NE, blooms late Jul – late 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 Croswell
Mostly: Northern & Central Native Ruderal Forest; Soybeans; North-Central Interior Beech-Maple Forest.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.17 mi S; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.22 mi E.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 55% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Croswell ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 89th | 61st | 89th | 89th |
| Michigan | 91st | 46th | 83rd | 95th |
| Huron/Erie Lake Plains | 49th | 79th | 36th | 84th |
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 Croswell: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Lexington 4 mi · Applegate 6 mi · Peck 10 mi · Carsonville 11 mi · Port Sanilac 11 mi · Lakeport 13 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 Croswell (43.2728, -82.6167); 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.