city in Michigan
Honey bee forage in Milan, Michigan
Estimated forage here is better than about 93% of sites in Michigan. Against other Michigan sites it stands out most in summer (83rd percentile) and lowest in fall (68th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.5 mi W, grown 3 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.6 mi S, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Milan?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jun 16 to Aug 31, peaking early Jul (soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Milan, 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): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, soybeans, early trees (maple, willow, poplar); light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers; 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 4,877 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.7 mi S, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 1,310 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.6 mi S, 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 Milan
Mostly: Corn; Soybeans; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards).
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.04 mi N; open water 0.04 mi N.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 71% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Milan ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 90th | 71st | 89th | 63rd |
| Michigan | 93rd | 70th | 83rd | 68th |
| Huron/Erie Lake Plains | 52nd | 88th | 36th | 53rd |
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 Milan: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Saline 8 mi · Dundee 8 mi · Britton 10 mi · Maybee 10 mi · Ypsilanti 12 mi · Petersburg 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 Milan (42.0813, -83.6848); 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.