village in Michigan
Honey bee forage in Shepherd, Michigan
Estimated forage here is better than about 98% of sites in Michigan. Against other Michigan sites it stands out most in summer (93rd percentile) and lowest in spring (34th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.3 mi NW, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.3 mi NW, grown 3 of the last 5 years); clover and wildflowers (nearest 1.5 mi E, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Shepherd?
- First forage: Apr 1 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jul 1 to Aug 31, peaking late Jul (soybeans)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Shepherd, 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 14.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), soybeans; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, alfalfa; white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Fall honey (September to November): soybeans, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, alfalfa; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, 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 3,258 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.3 mi NW, blooms late Jun – early Sep (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 2,280 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.3 mi NW, blooms late Jul – early Aug (grown 3 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 Shepherd
Mostly: Corn; Soybeans; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards).
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.45 mi SW; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.49 mi E.
How Shepherd ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 93rd | 55th | 92nd | 77th |
| Michigan | 98th | 34th | 93rd | 86th |
| Southern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift Plains | 95th | 48th | 80th | 86th |
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 Shepherd: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Mount Pleasant 7 mi · St. Louis 9 mi · Alma 10 mi · Winn 10 mi · Riverdale 12 mi · Rosebush 13 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 Shepherd (43.5236, -84.6927); 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.