city in Michigan
Honey bee forage in St. Joseph, Michigan
Estimated forage here is better than about 42% of sites in Michigan. Against other Michigan sites it stands out most in fall (85th percentile) and lowest in summer (39th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 3.0 mi E, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 3.0 mi E, grown 3 of the last 5 years); blueberries (nearest 3.7 mi E).
When is the honey flow in St. Joseph?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: May 1 to Jul 15, peaking early May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Aug 1 to Sep 30 (garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of St. Joseph, 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 8.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, lindens / basswood; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, lindens / basswood; 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 20 acres in a typical year, nearest 3 mi E, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 34 acres in a typical year, nearest 3 mi E, blooms early 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 St. Joseph
Mostly: Open water; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns).
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.18 mi NW; open water 0.18 mi NW.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 83% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How St. Joseph ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 66th | 69th | 69th | 75th |
| Michigan | 42nd | 65th | 39th | 85th |
| Southern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift Plains | 6th | 76th | 6th | 85th |
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 St. Joseph: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Fair Plain 2 mi · Benton Harbor 2 mi · Shoreham 3 mi · Benton Heights 4 mi · Stevensville 6 mi · Millburg 8 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 St. Joseph (42.0997, -86.4888); 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.