community in Michigan
Honey bee forage in Mio, Michigan
Estimated forage here is better than about 13% of sites in Michigan. Against other Michigan sites it stands out most in fall (57th percentile) and lowest in summer (14th). Biggest nearby bee crops: alfalfa (nearest 1.5 mi N, grown 1 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 1.7 mi N, grown 1 of the last 5 years); soybeans (nearest 1.7 mi N, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Mio?
- First forage: Mar 16 (early trees (maple, willow, poplar), dandelion)
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Jul 15, peaking late May (early trees (maple, willow, poplar), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Aug 1 to Aug 15 (summer-flowering shrubs, alfalfa, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Mio, 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 20.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): early trees (maple, willow, poplar), dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, summer-flowering shrubs; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): summer-flowering shrubs, clovers: white, alsike and red, alfalfa, dandelion; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, alfalfa, garden flowers; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): early trees (maple, willow, poplar), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs; 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
- Alfalfa: about 86 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.5 mi N, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 1 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 Mio
Mostly: Laurentian Jack Pine-Red Pine Forest; Laurentian-Acadian Sub-boreal Aspen-Birch Forest; Laurentian-Acadian Northern Pine Forest.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.02 mi E; pond, lake or river 0.03 mi SE.
How Mio ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 41st | 57th | 57th | 57th |
| Michigan | 13th | 36th | 14th | 57th |
| Northern Lakes and Forests | 25th | 28th | 24th | 79th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 64% of the land here is scored with national averages for its vegetation type rather than measured plant cover, so the wild-plant part of this estimate is rougher than the crop part.
The national forage map around Mio: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Rose City 17 mi · Lewiston 17 mi · Lupton 17 mi · Atlanta 24 mi · St. Helen 25 mi · Roscommon 25 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 Mio (44.6623, -84.146); 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.