community in Michigan
Honey bee forage in Freeland, Michigan
Estimated forage here is better than about 92% of sites in Michigan. Against other Michigan sites it stands out most in fall (90th percentile) and lowest in spring (40th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.2 mi SE, grown 4 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.4 mi NE, grown 2 of the last 5 years); dry beans (nearest 0.4 mi NE, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Freeland?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), 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 Freeland, 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 12.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, soybeans, early trees (maple, willow, poplar); light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, dry Beans, clovers: white, alsike and red; water 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, dry Beans; 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 1,970 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.6 mi W, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 827 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.7 mi W, blooms early Jul – early 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 Freeland
Mostly: Corn; Soybeans; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards).
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.14 mi S; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.27 mi W.
How Freeland ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 89th | 59th | 90th | 81st |
| Michigan | 92nd | 40th | 85th | 90th |
| Huron/Erie Lake Plains | 50th | 76th | 39th | 76th |
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 Freeland: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Auburn 6 mi · Shields 7 mi · Hemlock 9 mi · Midland 9 mi · Zilwaukee 10 mi · Saginaw 11 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 Freeland (43.5175, -84.1147); 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.