city in Michigan
Honey bee forage in Sandusky, Michigan
Estimated forage here is better than about 89% of sites in Michigan. Against other Michigan sites it stands out most in fall (97th percentile) and lowest in spring (41st). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.8 mi NE, grown 2 of the last 5 years); dry beans (nearest 0.5 mi NE, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.5 mi SW, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Sandusky?
- First forage: Apr 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jul 1 to Sep 15, peaking late Jul (soybeans, dry Beans)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Sandusky, 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 15.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, lindens / basswood; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, dry Beans, clovers: white, alsike and red, alfalfa; white, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): dry Beans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, soybeans; white, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, dry Beans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; 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 3,715 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.1 mi N, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Dry beans: about 685 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.5 mi NE, blooms late Jul – late Sep (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 1,247 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.5 mi SW, blooms late Jul – late 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 Sandusky
Mostly: Corn; Dry Beans; North-Central Interior and Appalachian Rich Swamp.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.29 mi S; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.43 mi NW.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 66% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Sandusky ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 88th | 59th | 88th | 97th |
| Michigan | 89th | 41st | 81st | 97th |
| Huron/Erie Lake Plains | 45th | 77th | 32nd | 89th |
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 Sandusky: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Snover 7 mi · Carsonville 8 mi · Deckerville 9 mi · Applegate 11 mi · Peck 11 mi · Marlette 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 Sandusky (43.4202, -82.833); 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.