city in Michigan
Honey bee forage in Portland, Michigan
Estimated forage here is better than about 82% of sites in Michigan. Against other Michigan sites it stands out most in summer (79th percentile) and lowest in spring (55th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.3 mi NE, grown 1 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.3 mi NE, grown 2 of the last 5 years); dry beans (nearest 0.8 mi S, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Portland?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: May 1 to Aug 31, peaking late Jul (soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Portland, 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 10.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, soybeans, early trees (maple, willow, poplar); extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, alfalfa, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Fall honey (September to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, 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 1,488 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.3 mi NE, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 2,218 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.3 mi NE, blooms early Jul – early Aug (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 Portland
Mostly: Corn; Soybeans; North-Central Interior Beech-Maple Forest.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.04 mi N; pond, lake or river 0.06 mi N.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 55% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Portland ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 86th | 65th | 87th | 70th |
| Michigan | 82nd | 55th | 79th | 76th |
| Southern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift Plains | 60th | 68th | 48th | 73rd |
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 Portland: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Westphalia 7 mi · Eagle 7 mi · Mulliken 7 mi · Lyons 8 mi · Sunfield 9 mi · Muir 9 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 Portland (42.8698, -84.8989); 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.