city in Michigan
Honey bee forage in Frankenmuth, Michigan
Estimated forage here is better than about 91% of sites in Michigan. Against other Michigan sites it stands out most in fall (91st percentile) and lowest in spring (42nd). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.5 mi SE, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.4 mi SE, grown 2 of the last 5 years); dry beans (nearest 0.8 mi N, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Frankenmuth?
- First forage: Apr 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- 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 Frankenmuth, 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 13.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, soybeans; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dry Beans, alfalfa; white, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): dry Beans, 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, garden flowers; 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 5,210 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.6 mi N, blooms late Jun – early Sep (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 2,338 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.8 mi NE, blooms early Jul – early Aug (grown 1 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 Frankenmuth
Mostly: Soybeans; Corn; North-Central Interior Dry-Mesic Oak Forest and Woodland.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.08 mi E; open water 0.08 mi E.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 70% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Frankenmuth ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 89th | 59th | 90th | 82nd |
| Michigan | 91st | 42nd | 84th | 91st |
| Huron/Erie Lake Plains | 48th | 77th | 37th | 78th |
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 Frankenmuth: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Birch Run 6 mi · Bridgeport 8 mi · Vassar 9 mi · Reese 9 mi · Buena Vista 10 mi · Robin Glen-Indiantown 10 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 Frankenmuth (43.3328, -83.7391); 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.