community in Michigan
Honey bee forage in Trufant, Michigan
Estimated forage here is better than about 61% of sites in Michigan. Against other Michigan sites it stands out most in fall (78th percentile) and lowest in spring (17th). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 0.2 mi W, grown 1 of the last 5 years); soybeans (right here, grown 4 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 0.1 mi N).
When is the honey flow in Trufant?
- First forage: Apr 1 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Main flow: Jul 1 to Aug 31, peaking late Jul (alfalfa, soybeans)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Trufant, 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), alfalfa; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): alfalfa, soybeans, dry Beans; white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Fall honey (September to November): alfalfa, dry Beans, soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red; white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Whole season (March to November): alfalfa, soybeans, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; extra light amber, likely to set within weeks to a few months
Nectar-source estimate (plants weighted by how much bees favor them), not a pollen analysis. Full honey estimate.
Bee crops within flight range
- Corn: about 3,561 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.2 mi W, blooms late Jul – early Aug (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 324 acres in a typical year, nearest 0 mi , blooms late Jun – early Sep (grown 4 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 118 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.6 mi W, blooms late Jun – early Sep (grown 5 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 Trufant
Mostly: Corn; Laurentian-Acadian Alkaline Conifer-Hardwood Swamp; Laurentian-Acadian Northern Oak Forest.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.09 mi SE; open water 0.09 mi SE.
How Trufant ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 76th | 41st | 86th | 71st |
| Michigan | 61st | 17th | 76th | 78th |
| Northern Lakes and Forests | 94th | 10th | 99th | 92nd |
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 Trufant: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Pierson 7 mi · Howard City 8 mi · Sand Lake 9 mi · Lakeview 9 mi · Greenville 11 mi · Cedar Springs 12 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 Trufant (43.3219, -85.3499); 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.