village in Michigan
Honey bee forage in Elkton, Michigan
Estimated forage here is better than about 85% of sites in Michigan. Against other Michigan sites it stands out most in fall (99th percentile) and lowest in spring (10th). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 0.3 mi NW, grown 3 of the last 5 years); dry beans (nearest 0.3 mi NW, grown 1 of the last 5 years); soybeans (nearest 0.3 mi NW, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Elkton?
- First forage: Apr 16 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jul 16 to Sep 15, peaking early Aug (dry Beans, soybeans, alfalfa)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Elkton, 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 18.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, alfalfa, garden flowers; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): dry Beans, soybeans, alfalfa, clovers: white, alsike and red; water white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Fall honey (September to November): dry Beans, alfalfa, soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red; water white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Whole season (March to November): dry Beans, soybeans, alfalfa, dandelion; white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
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 3,244 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.3 mi NW, blooms late Jul – late Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Dry beans: about 1,513 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.5 mi W, blooms late Jul – late Sep (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 144 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.3 mi NW, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 163 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.5 mi N, blooms late Jun – early Sep (grown 4 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 Elkton
Mostly: Corn; Dry Beans; Sugarbeets.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.2 mi W; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.38 mi N.
How Elkton ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 87th | 33rd | 89th | 99th |
| Michigan | 85th | 10th | 84th | 99th |
| Huron/Erie Lake Plains | 39th | 46th | 37th | 95th |
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 Elkton: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Pigeon 5 mi · Owendale 8 mi · Bad Axe 9 mi · Bay Port 9 mi · Caseville 10 mi · Gagetown 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 Elkton (43.8183, -83.181); 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.