village in Michigan
Honey bee forage in North Branch, Michigan
Estimated forage here is better than about 95% of sites in Michigan. Against other Michigan sites it stands out most in fall (89th percentile) and lowest in spring (40th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.3 mi N, grown 3 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.3 mi N, grown 3 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 0.2 mi N, grown 4 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in North Branch?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Jul 1 to Aug 31, peaking late Jul (soybeans)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of North Branch, 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 14.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, alfalfa, clovers: white, alsike and red; white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Fall honey (September to November): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, alfalfa; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, alfalfa; 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 6,405 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.3 mi N, blooms late Jun – early Sep (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 2,901 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.6 mi E, blooms late Jul – early Aug (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 36 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.2 mi N, blooms late Jun – early Sep (grown 4 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 North Branch
Mostly: Soybeans; Corn; Eastern Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.28 mi N; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.42 mi W.
How North Branch ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 91st | 59th | 91st | 80th |
| Michigan | 95th | 40th | 87th | 89th |
| Huron/Erie Lake Plains | 56th | 76th | 44th | 75th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 32% 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 North Branch: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Clifford 6 mi · Barnes Lake 6 mi · Millers Lake 7 mi · Fostoria 9 mi · Marlette 9 mi · Brown City 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 North Branch (43.2286, -83.192); 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.