city in Michigan
Honey bee forage in Ithaca, Michigan
Estimated forage here is better than about 96% of sites in Michigan. Against other Michigan sites it stands out most in summer (89th percentile) and lowest in spring (42nd). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.4 mi N, grown 4 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.4 mi SW, grown 1 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 0.6 mi NE, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Ithaca?
- 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 Ithaca, 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, soybeans, garden flowers; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, alfalfa, clovers: white, alsike and red; white, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): soybeans, 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, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, alfalfa; 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 6,402 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.6 mi NE, blooms late Jun – early Sep (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 11,495 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.6 mi NE, 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 Ithaca
Mostly: Corn; Soybeans; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards).
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.27 mi S; pond, lake or river 0.42 mi SE.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 59% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Ithaca ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 92nd | 59th | 91st | 75th |
| Michigan | 96th | 42nd | 89th | 84th |
| Southern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift Plains | 92nd | 56th | 74th | 84th |
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 Ithaca: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Alma 7 mi · St. Louis 8 mi · Perrinton 9 mi · Ashley 9 mi · Breckenridge 10 mi · Elm Hall 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 Ithaca (43.2911, -84.5957); 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.