village in Michigan
Honey bee forage in Port Sanilac, Michigan
Estimated forage here is better than about 80% of sites in Michigan. Against other Michigan sites it stands out most in fall (98th percentile) and lowest in spring (26th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.1 mi SW, grown 2 of the last 5 years); dry beans (nearest 0.1 mi SW, grown 1 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.1 mi SW, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Port Sanilac?
- First forage: Apr 1 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jul 1 to Sep 15, peaking early Aug (soybeans, dry Beans)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Port Sanilac, 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 21.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), early trees (maple, willow, poplar); light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, dry Beans, alfalfa, clovers: white, alsike and red; white, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): dry Beans, soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; white, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, dry Beans; 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 162 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.1 mi SW, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Dry beans: about 273 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.8 mi SW, blooms late Jul – late Sep (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 44 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.1 mi SW, blooms late Jul – late Aug (grown 1 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 Port Sanilac
Mostly: Open water; North-Central Interior Dry-Mesic Oak Forest and Woodland; Northern & Central Native Ruderal Forest.
Nearest mapped water: open water 0.23 mi E; pond, lake or river 0.24 mi E.
How Port Sanilac ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 85th | 49th | 87th | 98th |
| Michigan | 80th | 26th | 78th | 98th |
| Huron/Erie Lake Plains | 32nd | 66th | 27th | 92nd |
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 Port Sanilac: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Carsonville 6 mi · Applegate 7 mi · Lexington 11 mi · Croswell 11 mi · Deckerville 12 mi · Sandusky 14 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 Port Sanilac (43.4277, -82.5447); 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.