village in Michigan
Honey bee forage in Martin, Michigan
Estimated forage here is better than about 76% of sites in Michigan. Against other Michigan sites it stands out most in summer (84th percentile) and lowest in spring (16th). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 0.1 mi S, grown 3 of the last 5 years); soybeans (nearest 0.1 mi S, grown 2 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 0.6 mi SE).
When is the honey flow in Martin?
- First forage: Apr 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Jul 1 to Aug 15, peaking late Jul (soybeans, alfalfa)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Martin, 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 9.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, soybeans, alfalfa; 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, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), alfalfa; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, alfalfa, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; 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
- Corn: about 8,255 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.1 mi S, blooms early Jul – early Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 642 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.6 mi NW, blooms late Jun – late Aug (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 Martin
Mostly: Corn; North-Central Interior Beech-Maple Forest; North-Central Interior Dry Oak Forest and Woodland.
Nearest mapped water: open water 0.35 mi W; pond, lake or river 0.45 mi NW.
How Martin ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 83rd | 40th | 90th | 49th |
| Michigan | 76th | 16th | 84th | 46th |
| Southern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift Plains | 46th | 24th | 62nd | 35th |
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 Martin: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Otsego 6 mi · Plainwell 6 mi · Hopkins 9 mi · Wayland 9 mi · Allegan 10 mi · Delton 12 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 Martin (42.537, -85.639); 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.