village in Michigan
Honey bee forage in Vernon, Michigan
Estimated forage here is better than about 99% of sites in Michigan. Against other Michigan sites it stands out most in summer (97th percentile) and lowest in spring (32nd). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.2 mi S, grown 4 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.3 mi S, grown 1 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 0.5 mi NW, grown 4 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Vernon?
- 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 Vernon, 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 11.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, soybeans, early trees (maple, willow, poplar); light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans
- Fall honey (September to November): dry Beans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); 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 3,412 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.4 mi NE, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 4 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 1,237 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.5 mi E, blooms early Jul – early 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 Vernon
Mostly: Soybeans; Corn; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards).
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.15 mi SW; pond, lake or river 0.15 mi S.
How Vernon ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 95th | 54th | 94th | 61st |
| Michigan | 99th | 32nd | 97th | 63rd |
| Southern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift Plains | 98th | 45th | 90th | 57th |
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 Vernon: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Durand 3 mi · Bancroft 5 mi · Corunna 5 mi · Lennon 6 mi · Middletown 6 mi · Gaines 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 Vernon (42.9394, -84.0336); 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.