community in Michigan
Honey bee forage in Prudenville, Michigan
Estimated forage here is better than about 14% of sites in Michigan. Against other Michigan sites it stands out most in fall (64th percentile) and lowest in summer (18th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 1.2 mi SW, grown 1 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 1.2 mi SW, grown 1 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 2.3 mi N, grown 4 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Prudenville?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Jul 15, peaking late May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Prudenville, 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, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), garden flowers; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, summer-flowering shrubs, dandelion, garden flowers; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, summer-flowering shrubs; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), garden flowers; 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 2 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.2 mi SW, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 2 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.2 mi SW, blooms late Jul – late Aug (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 4 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.3 mi N, blooms early Jul – 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 Prudenville
Mostly: Open water; Laurentian-Acadian Alkaline Conifer-Hardwood Swamp; Laurentian-Acadian Sub-boreal Aspen-Birch Forest.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.08 mi NE; open water 0.08 mi NE.
How Prudenville ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 43rd | 54th | 59th | 62nd |
| Michigan | 14th | 32nd | 18th | 64th |
| Northern Lakes and Forests | 26th | 23rd | 30th | 85th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 36% 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 Prudenville: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Houghton Lake 4 mi · St. Helen 13 mi · Roscommon 13 mi · Falmouth 21 mi · Harrison 21 mi · West Branch 21 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 Prudenville (44.3008, -84.6655); 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.