village in Michigan
Honey bee forage in New Lothrop, Michigan
Estimated forage here is better than about 100% of sites in Michigan. Against other Michigan sites it stands out most in summer (99th percentile) and lowest in spring (25th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.2 mi NW, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.4 mi SW, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in New Lothrop?
- First forage: Apr 1 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Main flow: Jul 1 to Aug 31, peaking late Jul (soybeans)
- Season ends: Sep 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of New Lothrop, 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 12.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, soybeans, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans
- Fall honey (September to November): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); 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 10,256 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.2 mi NW, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 385 acres in a typical year, nearest 1 mi W, blooms early Jul – early 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 New Lothrop
Mostly: Soybeans; Corn; Northern & Central Ruderal Meadow.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.15 mi SE; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.16 mi SE.
How New Lothrop ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 97th | 48th | 96th | 61st |
| Michigan | 100th | 25th | 99th | 62nd |
| Southern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift Plains | 100th | 36th | 97th | 56th |
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 New Lothrop: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Montrose 6 mi · Flushing 7 mi · Burt 9 mi · Chesaning 9 mi · Lennon 9 mi · Oakley 10 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 New Lothrop (43.1173, -83.969); 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.