Mi-crop-weather State Michigan Crop Weather Released July 6, 2004 Week Ending Date July 4, 2004 Issue MI-CW2704 Agricultural Summary Sunny and Warmer Six days were suitable for fieldwork during the week ending July 4, according to the USDA-NASS-Michigan Statistical Office. Farmers across much of the State reported improved weather through much of the week. Sunshine, warmer temperatures and limited rainfall helped farmers make progress over the week. Crops responded well to the improved conditions. For the seven days ending July 5, precipitation amounts ranged from 0.33 inches in the east central Lower Peninsula to 1.35 inches in the western Upper Peninsula. While temperatures increased substantially, averages were still near to slightly below normal, ranging from 4 degrees below normal in the Eastern Upper Peninsula to normal in the central Lower Peninsula. "This may have been the best week in the last two months. We had good temperatures and sunshine," reported a farmer in the west central. A grower in the south central echoed the sentiment, "Crops made remarkable progress this week. The moderate temperatures and generous sunshine really helped." Field Crops Report Field Crops Warmer weather across the State improved field crop development and allowed producers to catch up on their fieldwork. Field activities last week included cultivating and spraying. Dry weather also allowed the first cutting of hay to be cut and baled. Hay fields cut prior to last week were greening up again and should have a decent second cutting. The corn crop was coming along. There was a variation in size of corn plants due to a lot of late planting and wet spots in the fields. Corn plants can range from 3 inches to 3 feet in the same field. Soybean planting was wrapping up. Earlier water damage in the soybean crop was now showing up. Some late soybean planting was still talking place. Overall, soybeans were emerging well. The wheat crop faced a variety of obstacles over the week. High levels of armyworms in several districts were reported. Head scab appeared, and many farmers were concerned about vomitoxin. The level of vomitoxin was unknown. The crop was maturing quickly in most areas. Dry bean planting neared completion. Three-fourths of the crop was emerged. Operators reported that the sugarbeet crop continued to improve. Fruit, Vegetable, and Specialty Crops Report Fruit Tart cherry harvest began in the southwest. Some orchards suffered a lot of cherry leaf spot damage while others were unaffected. Harvest started at several farms in the southeast. West central tart cherries were changing color. Sweet cherry harvest continued in the southwest and was underway in the southeast. Many growers have an excellent crop this year. The west central crop was looking very good too. Fruit was changing color, and some early harvest will start soon. Southeast apples continued to size very well. Most Red Delicious apples were 1.5 to 1.75 inches in diameter, and other varieties neared 2.0 inches. Cedar-apple rust showed up in some southwest plantings. New fireblight symptoms continued to appear, but the cool weather has slowed the disease. Codling moth trap catches were down in the northwest, and mite populations were generally low. Early peaches were coloring in the southwest. Peaches were growing well in the southeast; most were around 1.75 inches in diameter. Southwest apricots were coloring. Blueberry harvest was underway on early varieties in the southwest. In the southeast, they continued to size well. Harvest of early blueberry varieties started in the west central. Strawberry renovation was complete in the southwest, and new growth was appearing. In the southeast, harvest was complete. In the southwest, Concord and Niagara grapes were nearing berry touch. Wine grape berries were buckshot-sized and at berry shatter. In the northwest, foliage and crop development looked good in most vineyards. Vegetables Warmer weather and sunshine aided vegetable growth over the week. Snap bean planting continued. Emerged plants looked good. Some early plantings were harvested in the southwest. Later planted potatoes were emerging quickly. Several districts reported early plantings in bloom. Some potato beetles and aphids were reported. Sweet corn ranged from near harvest in the southeast to just knee high in the west central. Tomatoes responded well to the warm temperatures. Carrot planting wrapped up, nearly two weeks behind normal in the west central. Some Cercespora blight was reported. Cabbage harvest moved along in the southeast. Cantaloups and watermelons continued to improve with the favorable weather. Peppers were in bloom in the southwest but still showed some stress from the cool temperatures. Celery harvest was just starting in the southwest. Early zucchini harvest continued in the southwest and was expected to pick up in the coming week. Harvest of the crop will begin soon in the southeast. Soil Moisture and Crop Condition Tables Soil moisture for week ending 07/04/04 --------------------------------------------- : Very : : : Stratum : short : Short :Adequate:Surplus --------------------------------------------- : Percent : Topsoil : 0 10 80 10 Subsoil : 0 5 84 11 --------------------------------------------- Crop condition for week ending 07/04/04 ----------------------------------------------------------- : Very : : : : Crop : poor : Poor : Fair : Good :Excellent ----------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : All Hay : 2 9 33 43 13 Barley : 2 20 44 32 2 Corn : 5 16 39 34 6 Oats : 5 9 43 35 8 Pasture : 0 5 30 53 12 Soybeans : 3 13 44 34 6 Winter Wheat : 3 9 28 52 8 ----------------------------------------------------------- Crop progress for week ending 07/04/04 ------------------------------------------------------------ : This : Last : Last :5-year Crop : week : week : year :average ------------------------------------------------------------ : Inches : Corn, height : 21 16 21 27 : : Percent : All hay, first cutting : 82 61 91 87 Dry beans, planted : 96 87 98 99 Dry beans, emerged : 76 52 89 90 Oats, headed : 73 53 65 79 Oats, turning yellow : 7 0 3 20 Soybeans, emerged : 95 87 97 98 Strawberries, harvested : 97 90 86 94 Tart cherries, harvested : 14 2 13 NA Winter wheat, turning yellow: 79 46 50 79 ------------------------------------------------------------ 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 07/05/04 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 45 655 777 1.39 1.88 3.32 12.34 Marquette : 84 42 583 752 0.91 1.76 2.97 11.78 Stephenson : 86 45 767 928 2.21 2.72 4.12 13.43 Western UP : 86 40 -3 641 788 748 1.35 1.82 3.22 11.01 9.75 3.42 : Cornell : 87 44 582 803 0.55 1.09 2.18 8.88 Sault St Marie : 75 45 458 718 1.11 1.78 2.81 10.24 Eastern UP : 87 37 -4 524 695 599 1.13 1.76 2.73 8.55 9.23 3.19 : Beulah : 86 49 807 854 1.48 1.60 3.43 14.34 Lake City : 83 46 835 843 0.86 1.09 2.50 14.17 Old Mission : 86 46 765 810 0.59 0.99 2.34 11.44 Pellston : 84 40 738 819 0.32 0.69 1.55 9.11 Northwest : 86 40 -2 762 805 871 0.81 1.05 2.41 11.66 8.78 2.99 : Alpena : 77 41 747 766 0.79 0.86 2.11 9.30 Houghton Lake : 82 45 877 906 0.55 0.77 2.04 12.72 Rogers City : 84 46 796 775 0.74 1.08 2.35 10.84 Northeast : 84 41 -1 823 845 832 0.69 1.03 2.28 11.33 8.71 3.18 : Fremont : 82 56 984 999 1.14 1.36 2.23 12.99 Hart : 84 53 915 900 1.41 2.25 4.66 15.82 Muskegon : 84 57 996 982 1.11 1.84 5.35 16.79 West Central : 84 53 -1 945 943 973 1.31 1.84 4.59 15.67 9.23 2.54 : Alma : 84 53 1,086 993 0.47 1.36 4.57 13.06 Big Rapids : 85 52 1,030 951 0.50 1.80 5.43 14.22 Central : 85 52 0 1,060 968 1,030 0.48 1.47 4.90 14.40 9.72 2.97 : Bad Axe : 85 50 930 806 0.32 1.62 3.20 12.75 Pigeon : 85 49 917 835 0.30 1.63 3.76 14.59 Saginaw : 84 55 1,052 953 0.19 1.14 3.12 13.12 Standish : 84 49 927 863 0.23 1.11 2.90 13.39 East Central : 85 49 -2 937 872 1,010 0.33 1.38 3.70 13.64 8.71 2.92 : Fennville : 86 52 1,071 936 0.82 1.26 3.45 12.16 Grand Rapids : 85 57 1,238 1,022 1.48 2.07 4.40 16.81 Holland : 85 54 1,097 975 1.42 1.98 4.09 11.12 South Bend, IN : 87 52 1,338 1,117 1.19 1.50 6.45 13.79 Watervliet : 85 54 1,170 1,013 1.25 1.64 7.05 14.09 Southwest : 87 49 -1 1,168 1,033 1,108 1.26 1.91 5.11 14.29 10.53 3.09 : Belding : 83 55 1,111 970 0.65 1.21 3.62 13.34 Coldwater : 86 50 1,150 1,006 2.25 2.70 5.91 12.93 Lansing : 84 55 1,168 1,019 0.62 1.10 3.54 14.59 South Central : 87 50 -1 1,163 1,032 1,105 0.88 1.20 3.87 13.85 10.35 3.22 : Detroit : 86 58 1,274 1,113 0.34 0.42 3.06 11.94 Flint : 83 54 1,221 1,057 0.45 0.74 2.50 11.61 Romeo : 87 52 1,141 971 0.75 0.87 2.70 13.30 Tipton : 86 48 1,158 1,016 0.18 0.33 4.43 11.52 Toledo, OH : 87 52 1,357 1,135 0.08 0.27 3.75 9.77 Southeast : 87 48 -1 1,186 1,061 1,074 0.58 0.93 4.12 12.74 10.00 3.11 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.