community in Michigan
Honey bee forage in Dowling, Michigan
Estimated forage here is better than about 78% of sites in Michigan. Against other Michigan sites it stands out most in summer (79th percentile) and lowest in fall (38th). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 0.2 mi NW, grown 2 of the last 5 years); soybeans (nearest 0.2 mi SW, grown 3 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (right here, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Dowling?
- First forage: Mar 1 (early trees (maple, willow, poplar), dandelion)
- Main flow: Jun 16 to Aug 31, peaking late Jul (soybeans, alfalfa)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Dowling, 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 7.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): early trees (maple, willow, poplar), summer-flowering trees (locust, linden), soybeans, alfalfa; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, alfalfa, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Fall honey (September to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); light amber, likely to set over some months
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), alfalfa, summer-flowering trees (locust, linden); 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
- Corn: about 289 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.2 mi NW, blooms early Jul – early Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 174 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.4 mi W, blooms late Jun – 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 Dowling
Mostly: North-Central Interior Beech-Maple Forest; Eastern Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland; Soybeans.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.02 mi N; pond, lake or river 0.63 mi S.
How Dowling ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 83rd | 63rd | 87th | 43rd |
| Michigan | 78th | 50th | 79th | 38th |
| Southern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift Plains | 49th | 64th | 49th | 25th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 53% 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 Dowling: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Nashville 9 mi · Hastings 9 mi · Delton 9 mi · Hickory Corners 10 mi · Level Park-Oak Park 11 mi · Vermontville 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 Dowling (42.5298, -85.2342); 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.