village in Michigan
Honey bee forage in Pigeon, Michigan
Estimated forage here is better than about 82% of sites in Michigan. Against other Michigan sites it stands out most in fall (98th percentile) and lowest in spring (12th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.3 mi N, grown 2 of the last 5 years); dry beans (nearest 0.4 mi N, grown 2 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 0.2 mi W, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Pigeon?
- First forage: Apr 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jul 16 to Sep 15, peaking early Aug (dry Beans, soybeans, alfalfa)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Pigeon, 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 16.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, alfalfa, garden flowers; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): dry Beans, soybeans, alfalfa, clovers: white, alsike and red; water white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Fall honey (September to November): dry Beans, alfalfa, soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red; water white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Whole season (March to November): dry Beans, soybeans, alfalfa, dandelion; white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
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 842 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.8 mi NE, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Dry beans: about 1,352 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.9 mi W, blooms late Jul – late Sep (grown 2 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 Pigeon
Mostly: Sugarbeets; Dry Beans; Corn.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.46 mi S; open water 0.5 mi E.
How Pigeon ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 85th | 36th | 89th | 99th |
| Michigan | 82nd | 12th | 82nd | 98th |
| Huron/Erie Lake Plains | 35th | 50th | 33rd | 93rd |
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 Pigeon: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Elkton 5 mi · Bay Port 5 mi · Owendale 7 mi · Caseville 8 mi · Sebewaing 11 mi · Gagetown 12 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 Pigeon (43.8294, -83.2702); 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.