Mi-crop-weather State Michigan Crop Weather Released May 3, 2004 Week Ending Date May 2, 2004 Issue MI-CW1804 Agricultural Summary Scattered Precipitation Four days were suitable for fieldwork during the week ending May 2, according to the USDA-NASS-Michigan Statistical Office. Growers in the southern half of the Lower Peninsula faced a variety of conditions, including snow and unusually high winds. However, much of the lower half of the State did receive at least some much needed precipitation. Several counties in the south central district had progressed to drought conditions prior to the rain. Farmers in the Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Peninsula reported continued cold and wet conditions that hampered fieldwork progress. Precipitation amounts ranged from 0.18 inches in the western Upper Peninsula to 1.80 inches in the central Lower Peninsula. Temperatures ranged from 3 degrees below normal in three northern districts to 1 degree above normal in the southeast Lower Peninsula. Commenting on the variety of conditions over the past week, a producer in the northeast said, "We had four seasons all in one week: cold, snow, rain, wind and eighty degree temperatures." A farmer in the central district faced similar conditions. "We are having a tough time getting the fieldwork done. We get just enough rain to stop us, but we are still short on moisture." Field Crops Report Field Crops Field work was put on hold in some areas due to cold, wet weather. Windy conditions made the soil very dry in many counties early in the week. Northern counties received a lot of rain in the past two weeks, and little field work has been done due to the rains. Southern counties had not received as much rain and field activities continued. Wheat still looked good and was growing slowly. Most oats were in and nearly half the crop emerged. Sugarbeets were all planted but awaiting warmer temperatures. The crop looked good except where high winds cut off the seedling plants. Some replanting may be necessary. Corn planting was slowed by rain but improved soil moisture levels were helpful. Soybean plantings were ahead of normal. Fruit, Vegetable, and Specialty Crops Report Fruit Temperatures fluctuated throughout the State last week, with lows below freezing at the end of the week. Rainfall over the weekend helped soil moisture conditions. Strong winds in the southwest were blowing sand across worked fields, causing some damage to blooming fruit crops. Growers were applying fungicides and herbicides to fruit. Insect activity has been light due to cool temperatures. Fruit tree planting continued last week. There was some loss due to frost in the southwest, as temperatures reached the mid-20's over the evening of May 2. Grapes were most negatively impacted by the freeze. Apples were in early pink or beginning to bloom in the southwest, were in early pink in the southeast, and in tight cluster in the west central. In the area around Grand Rapids, earliest to mid season apple varieties were starting to show signs of king bloom. Most apple varieties were in open cluster to early pink stage. Several apple scab infections were observed throughout the apple growing regions. Steady light rainfall increased spore levels. In the southeast, pruning on apples was completed. In the west central, tart cherries were showing tight, green cluster. Sweet cherries ranged from first whiter bud to first bloom in the west central, and were in bloom in the Grand Rapids area. Peaches were at early pink in the west central, and approaching full bloom near Grand Rapids. Pruning on peaches and other stone fruit was underway in the southeast. Vegetables Planting continued for a wide variety of vegetable crops across the State. Growers in several districts noted that high winds over the week may have caused scattered wind damage. In the west central, carrots continued to be planted and processing spinach was mostly emerged. Stands looked good. Cabbage planting continued in the southeast. Growers continued to mow the rye cover crop in asparagus fields. Harvest began in several districts. Producers reported two to three pickings for the week in the southwest. Soil Moisture and Crop Condition Tables Soil moisture for week ending 05/02/04 --------------------------------------------- : Very : : : Stratum : short : Short :Adequate:Surplus --------------------------------------------- : Percent : Topsoil : 8 20 57 15 Subsoil : 10 25 60 5 --------------------------------------------- Crop condition for week ending 05/02/04 ----------------------------------------------------------- : Very : : : : Crop : poor : Poor : Fair : Good :Excellent ----------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : Pasture : 4 8 36 45 7 Winter Wheat : 0 3 23 55 19 ----------------------------------------------------------- Crop progress for week ending 05/02/04 ------------------------------------------------------------ : This : Last : Last :5-year Crop : week : week : year :average ------------------------------------------------------------ : Percent : Asparagus, harvested : 11 NA NA NA Barley, planted : 61 25 25 49 Barley, emerged : 31 8 1 29 Corn, planted : 42 15 18 15 Corn, emerged : 2 0 0 0 Oats, planted : 84 63 55 65 Oats, emerged : 45 20 11 37 Potatoes, planted : 20 14 NA NA Soybeans, planted : 12 3 3 4 ------------------------------------------------------------ Contact Information U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service Michigan Statistical Office P.O. Box 26248 Lansing, MI 48909-6248 517-324-5300; or 800-453-7501 Fax 517-324-5299 email: nass-mi@nass.usda.gov Web Page: http:/www.nass.usda.gov/mi Weather Information Table Michigan Weather Summary for Week Ending 05/02/04 1/ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : :Cumulative growing: : Temperature : degree days 2/ : Precipitation :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : : : : : : : : Normal Station : : :Departure: : : :This:Last :Last : Since :------------- :Maximum :Minimum : from :2004 :2003 :Normal:week: two :four :April 1: Since : For : : : normal : : : : :weeks:weeks: :April 1:month ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ironwood : 81 23 79 94 0.18 0.82 2.47 2.52 Marquette : 69 15 56 91 0.37 1.08 2.72 2.91 Stephenson : 74 28 142 148 0.31 1.52 2.63 2.63 Western UP : 81 15 -3 79 98 86 0.18 0.80 2.21 2.27 2.58 3.37 : Cornell : 66 22 69 84 0.40 1.19 1.98 1.98 Sault St Marie : 67 26 25 54 0.59 1.43 1.92 1.92 Eastern UP : 67 22 -3 42 60 44 0.44 1.07 1.50 1.57 2.69 3.01 : Beulah : 74 28 114 124 0.40 1.89 3.49 3.68 Lake City : 73 26 120 128 0.68 2.14 4.20 4.30 Old Mission : 75 28 100 100 0.22 1.55 2.46 2.48 Pellston : 76 23 98 111 0.06 1.25 1.78 1.78 Northwest : 76 23 -3 102 109 108 0.36 1.65 2.71 2.77 2.92 2.61 : Alpena : 80 25 97 117 1.14 1.92 2.44 2.44 Houghton Lake : 74 26 137 139 0.68 1.45 3.38 3.40 Rogers City : 77 27 113 96 0.81 1.91 2.92 2.93 Northeast : 80 23 -1 121 124 98 0.87 1.91 3.09 3.10 2.79 2.76 : Fremont : 75 30 172 171 0.21 1.12 1.85 1.87 Hart : 74 30 174 135 0.33 1.52 2.23 2.29 Muskegon : 74 32 160 154 0.16 0.95 1.83 1.84 West Central : 75 30 NA 169 152 132 0.23 1.20 1.97 2.00 3.36 2.67 : Alma : 77 30 198 166 2.25 3.03 3.71 3.76 Big Rapids : 77 27 173 156 0.75 1.01 2.08 2.11 Central : 77 27 0 189 160 147 1.80 2.52 3.30 3.34 3.35 2.79 : Bad Axe : 78 28 150 93 1.63 3.01 4.65 4.67 Pigeon : 76 29 138 107 1.49 2.36 3.79 3.83 Saginaw : 78 30 177 138 1.22 2.07 2.47 2.52 Standish : 77 28 166 134 1.15 1.89 3.67 3.67 East Central : 79 28 -2 153 123 140 1.36 2.29 3.40 3.43 2.76 2.63 : Fennville : 76 31 173 173 0.76 1.67 1.87 1.88 Grand Rapids : 78 31 226 184 0.78 2.63 2.92 2.93 Holland : 77 32 180 168 0.65 1.60 1.83 1.83 South Bend, IN : 79 34 237 219 0.80 1.24 1.27 1.28 Watervliet : 78 34 203 196 0.73 1.62 1.62 1.64 Southwest : 80 30 -1 204 200 167 0.72 1.59 1.83 1.85 3.59 3.01 : Belding : 76 30 189 209 0.48 1.65 2.34 2.34 Coldwater : 78 33 198 187 1.28 1.48 1.56 1.58 Lansing : 78 31 210 187 1.13 1.52 1.74 1.77 South Central : 80 30 0 207 202 168 1.02 1.52 1.78 1.79 3.32 2.92 : Detroit : 81 29 219 200 1.19 1.62 1.69 1.78 Flint : 80 30 220 183 1.41 1.74 1.88 1.95 Romeo : 81 26 199 161 1.10 2.34 2.48 2.50 Tipton : 80 25 205 205 1.17 1.32 1.43 1.46 Toledo, OH : 80 26 236 213 0.78 1.51 1.70 1.74 Southeast : 82 25 1 207 196 155 1.25 1.80 1.93 2.00 3.33 2.85 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Issued by the Federal/State Michigan Agricultural Statistics Service in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Commerce, Michigan State University's Cooperative Extension Service, Agricultural Meteorologist, Department of Geography, and Crop Advisory Team ALERTS. 2/ Growing degree days (GDD) is the sum of daily mean temperatures minus 50 per day, 86 maximum And 50 minimum. The GDD is accumulative from April 1.