city in Michigan
Honey bee forage in Marlette, Michigan
Estimated forage here is better than about 96% of sites in Michigan. Against other Michigan sites it stands out most in fall (97th percentile) and lowest in spring (40th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.5 mi E, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.5 mi E, grown 2 of the last 5 years); dry beans (nearest 0.6 mi N, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Marlette?
- First forage: Apr 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jul 1 to Aug 31, peaking late Jul (soybeans)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Marlette, 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 16.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers; 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): soybeans, dry Beans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; 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 3,945 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.5 mi E, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 3,250 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.5 mi E, blooms late Jul – late 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 Marlette
Mostly: Soybeans; Corn; Northern & Central Native Ruderal Forest.
Nearest mapped water: open water 0.43 mi SE; pond, lake or river 0.45 mi N.
Things to watch
- Bee crops nearby that are often sprayed. Cucumbers: insecticides used on about 36% of surveyed US acres (2024). Figures are from USDA's Agricultural Chemical Use Survey, matched by crop type from the crop map. The survey counts any insecticide use in the crop year (not seed treatments) and doesn't say when; ask nearby growers about spray timing.
How Marlette ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 91st | 58th | 90th | 96th |
| Michigan | 96th | 40th | 86th | 97th |
| Huron/Erie Lake Plains | 58th | 76th | 41st | 88th |
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 Marlette: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Clifford 5 mi · Kingston 8 mi · North Branch 9 mi · Brown City 9 mi · Snover 11 mi · Mayville 14 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 Marlette (43.3264, -83.0805); 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.