community in Michigan
Honey bee forage in Weidman, Michigan
Estimated forage here is better than about 59% of sites in Michigan. Against other Michigan sites it stands out most in spring (91st percentile) and lowest in summer (53rd). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 0.6 mi NE, grown 4 of the last 5 years); soybeans (nearest 0.6 mi NE, grown 1 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 1.0 mi E, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Weidman?
- First forage: Mar 1 (early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Aug 15, peaking late May (early trees (maple, willow, poplar), summer-flowering shrubs, soybeans)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Weidman, 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 16.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): early trees (maple, willow, poplar), summer-flowering shrubs, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red; amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, alfalfa, summer-flowering shrubs, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): alfalfa, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): early trees (maple, willow, poplar), summer-flowering shrubs, alfalfa, soybeans; 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
- Corn: about 238 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.6 mi NE, blooms late Jul – late Aug (grown 4 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 616 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.3 mi NE, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 4 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 89 acres in a typical year, nearest 1 mi E, blooms late Jun – early Sep (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 Weidman
Mostly: Laurentian-Acadian Sub-boreal Aspen-Birch Forest; Laurentian-Acadian Alkaline Conifer-Hardwood Swamp; Laurentian-Acadian Northern Oak Forest.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.07 mi N; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.36 mi E.
How Weidman ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 75th | 81st | 73rd | 56th |
| Michigan | 59th | 91st | 53rd | 56th |
| Northern Lakes and Forests | 92nd | 90th | 83rd | 78th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 71% of the land here is scored with national averages for its vegetation type rather than measured plant cover, so the wild-plant part of this estimate is rougher than the crop part.
The national forage map around Weidman: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Beal City 4 mi · Lake Isabella 4 mi · Barryton 9 mi · Farwell 11 mi · Rosebush 11 mi · Mount Pleasant 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 Weidman (43.7041, -84.978); 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.