community in Michigan
Honey bee forage in Ossineke, Michigan
Estimated forage here is better than about 30% of sites in Michigan. Against other Michigan sites it stands out most in fall (65th percentile) and lowest in summer (36th). Biggest nearby bee crops: alfalfa (nearest 1.2 mi SW); corn (nearest 1.1 mi SW, grown 3 of the last 5 years); soybeans (nearest 2.1 mi W, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Ossineke?
- First forage: Mar 16 (early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Jul 15, peaking late May (early trees (maple, willow, poplar), summer-flowering trees (locust, linden), summer-flowering shrubs)
- Fall flow: Aug 1 to Aug 15 (alfalfa, summer-flowering shrubs)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Ossineke, 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 25.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): early trees (maple, willow, poplar), summer-flowering trees (locust, linden), dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): summer-flowering shrubs, alfalfa, summer-flowering trees (locust, linden), clovers: white, alsike and red; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): alfalfa, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs; extra light amber, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Whole season (March to November): early trees (maple, willow, poplar), summer-flowering shrubs, summer-flowering trees (locust, linden), alfalfa; 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 313 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.6 mi W, blooms early Jul – late Sep (grown 4 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 64 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.6 mi W, blooms late Jul – late Aug (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 Ossineke
Mostly: Open water; Laurentian-Acadian Alkaline Conifer-Hardwood Swamp; Alfalfa.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0 mi S; pond, lake or river 0.37 mi SW.
How Ossineke ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 59th | 65th | 68th | 62nd |
| Michigan | 30th | 53rd | 36th | 65th |
| Northern Lakes and Forests | 51st | 43rd | 62nd | 86th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 78% 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 Ossineke: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Lost Lake Woods 8 mi · Hubbard Lake 9 mi · Alpena 11 mi · Lincoln 15 mi · Harrisville 19 mi · Hillman 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 Ossineke (44.9083, -83.432); 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.