village in Michigan
Honey bee forage in Hopkins, Michigan
Estimated forage here is better than about 84% of sites in Michigan. Against other Michigan sites it stands out most in summer (86th percentile) and lowest in spring (21st). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.3 mi N, grown 1 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.3 mi E, grown 2 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 0.1 mi E, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Hopkins?
- First forage: Apr 1 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jul 1 to Aug 31, peaking late Jul (soybeans, alfalfa)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Hopkins, 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 11.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, alfalfa, soybeans; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, alfalfa; white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Fall honey (September to November): alfalfa, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; extra light amber, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, alfalfa, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; extra light amber, 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
- Soybeans: about 1,645 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.3 mi N, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 1,934 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.3 mi E, blooms early Jul – early Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 41 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.1 mi E, blooms late Jun – early 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 Hopkins
Mostly: Corn; North-Central Interior Dry Oak Forest and Woodland; Alfalfa.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.02 mi E; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.27 mi N.
How Hopkins ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 86th | 44th | 90th | 57th |
| Michigan | 84th | 21st | 86th | 58th |
| Southern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift Plains | 65th | 30th | 68th | 50th |
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 Hopkins: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Wayland 7 mi · Dorr 7 mi · Allegan 8 mi · Martin 9 mi · Otsego 12 mi · Byron Center 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 Hopkins (42.6251, -85.7633); 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.