city in Michigan
Honey bee forage in Niles, Michigan
Estimated forage here is better than about 74% of sites in Michigan. Against other Michigan sites it stands out most in spring (87th percentile) and lowest in summer (66th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.9 mi E, grown 3 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.9 mi E, grown 2 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 2.4 mi SE).
When is the honey flow in Niles?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Aug 15, peaking early May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, soybeans)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Niles, 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): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, lindens / basswood; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, dandelion; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, soybeans, 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 115 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.9 mi E, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 1,240 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.1 mi N, 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 Niles
Mostly: Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns); North-Central Interior Dry-Mesic Oak Forest and Woodland.
Nearest mapped water: open water 0.56 mi W; pond, lake or river 0.59 mi W.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 91% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Niles ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 82nd | 79th | 80th | 76th |
| Michigan | 74th | 87th | 66th | 86th |
| Southern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift Plains | 41st | 91st | 25th | 86th |
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 Niles: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Buchanan 6 mi · Edwardsburg 9 mi · Berrien Springs 9 mi · Eau Claire 11 mi · Dowagiac 12 mi · Galien 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 Niles (41.8345, -86.2479); 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.