community in Michigan
Honey bee forage in Ida, Michigan
Estimated forage here is better than about 95% of sites in Michigan. Against other Michigan sites it stands out most in summer (97th percentile) and lowest in spring (7th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (right here, grown 4 of the last 5 years); corn (right here, grown 1 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 0.1 mi N, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Ida?
- First forage: Apr 1 (dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jun 16 to Aug 31, peaking late Jul (soybeans)
- Season ends: Aug 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Ida, 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): soybeans, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); 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): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, alfalfa, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; 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 8,658 acres in a typical year, nearest 0 mi , blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 4 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 2,618 acres in a typical year, nearest 0 mi , blooms early Jul – early Aug (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 71 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.9 mi NW, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 5 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 Ida
Mostly: Soybeans; Corn; Winter Wheat.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.08 mi NW; open water 0.1 mi W.
How Ida ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 91st | 27th | 95th | 37th |
| Michigan | 95th | 7th | 97th | 30th |
| Huron/Erie Lake Plains | 57th | 39th | 63rd | 31st |
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 Ida: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
West Monroe 7 mi · Dundee 7 mi · South Monroe 7 mi · Petersburg 8 mi · Maybee 8 mi · Monroe 9 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 Ida (41.9037, -83.5628); 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.