Mi-crop-weather State Michigan Crop Weather Released August 9, 2004 Week Ending Date August 8, 2004 Issue MI-CW3204 Agricultural Summary Cool Temperatures Six days were suitable for fieldwork during the week ending August 8, according to the USDA-NASS-Michigan Statistical Office. Below normal temperatures and limited precipitation were the rule across the State. Several districts reported being in need of moisture. However, moisture levels were highly variable among districts and counties. Precipitation amounts ranged from 0.06 inches in the northwest Lower Peninsula to 0.97 inches in the southeast Lower Peninsula. Across the State, temperatures were below normal, with averages for the week ranging from 3 degrees below normal in the Upper Peninsula and the three southern Lower Peninsula districts to 1 degree below normal in three Lower Peninsula districts. Since April 1, only the three southern Lower Peninsula districts have cumulative growing degree days at or above normal. Farmers in the Thumb reported, "We got a couple days of warm temperatures, and then the cool weather returned. Some 90 degree days are needed to give these crops a boost." A farmer in the south central agreed, "Recent showers have kept the corn and beans looking good, but we still need some heat units to get the crop developed." Field Crops Report Field Crops Temperatures varied throughout the week, beginning with much needed heat and ending on a cooler note. Precipitation was scattered, and the amount received was highly variable. In the southeast, light precipitation slowed the cutting of hay; however, the second cutting was near completion for most districts. Corn growth has slowed due to the lack of heat. In the northeast, fields have just begun to tassel. The soybean crop continued to advance, with most fields setting pods. Wheat harvest neared completion. Dry weather conditions in some districts decreased moisture levels and advanced harvest. Reports of vomitoxin and other diseases were widespread in the crop. The cooler temperatures slowed the development of the Cercospora leafspot in sugarbeets. The crop showed signs of stress and wilting due to a lack of soil moisture. Fruit, Vegetable, and Specialty Crops Report Fruit Fruit development was typically 7 to 10 days ahead of normal throughout the State. Summer apple varieties were being harvested in the southwest. Codling moth egg hatch continued later than normal in the region. Apple scab infestation was down thanks to a lack of precipitation. In the southeast, early variety apples were being harvested. Peach harvest continued in the southwest, and size was generally excellent. Southeast peach harvest continued. Tart cherry harvest was complete in the west central district. Leaf spot was a major problem there. Tart cherry harvest continued in the northwest. Leaf spot was also problematic. Harvest of early variety blueberries was winding down in the southeast, while late variety harvest was underway. In the southwest, Bluecrop harvest was finished and Jerseys were being harvested. Grape cluster numbers looked good in the northwest. Berry set was variable due to cool weather during pollination. In the southwest, berry moths were prevalent in grapes. Summer raspberry harvest was finished in the southeast while fall harvest began well ahead of normal. Vegetables Harvest of many vegetable crops progressed over the week. Continued dry conditions in primary growing areas had vegetable farmers irrigating. Sweet corn harvest was in full swing across much of the State. Picking began in the northeast. In the southeast, harvest of earliest plantings was nearly complete. European corn borer counts were low in most vegetable growing areas. Potato harvest picked up in the southeast. Carrot harvest began in the west central and southeast. Heavy cercospora pressure was reported in the west central. Celery harvest continued on schedule. Growers reported good quality, size, and yields. Tomato harvest moved along. Fresh market plantings continued to ripen very slowly. Processing harvest was slated to begin this week in the southeast. Bacterial diseases were reported in several districts. Downy mildew was becoming a widespread problem in onions. However, the crop continued to size well in the southeast. Growers began treating first plantings of snap beans for white mold in the west central. Harvest of peppers and eggplant progressed in the southwest. Cucumber, zucchini, and squash harvest continued in several districts. Soil Moisture and Crop Condition Tables Soil moisture for week ending 08/08/04 --------------------------------------------- : Very : : : Stratum : short : Short :Adequate:Surplus --------------------------------------------- : Percent : Topsoil : 9 30 60 1 Subsoil : 4 26 66 4 --------------------------------------------- Crop condition for week ending 08/08/04 ----------------------------------------------------------- : Very : : : : Crop : poor : Poor : Fair : Good :Excellent ----------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : All Hay : 1 10 37 38 14 Barley : 1 12 35 44 8 Corn : 6 15 32 31 16 Dry beans : 4 12 36 37 11 Oats : 3 14 28 46 9 Pasture : 2 13 34 38 13 Soybeans : 4 9 37 34 16 ----------------------------------------------------------- Crop progress for week ending 08/08/04 ------------------------------------------------------------ : This : Last : Last :5-year Crop : week : week : year :average ------------------------------------------------------------ : Inches : Corn, height : 64 59 68 73 : : Percent : All hay, second cutting : 70 64 79 76 All hay, third cutting : 10 4 9 10 Blueberries, harvested : 80 62 44 NA Corn, silked : 71 67 78 86 Corn, dough : 11 4 1 8 Dry beans, blooming : 80 37 57 73 Dry beans, setting pods : 40 10 26 41 Oats, turning yellow : 91 84 97 98 Oats, harvested : 34 20 17 51 Peaches, harvested : 31 24 NA NA Soybeans, blooming : 82 60 82 88 Soybeans, setting pods : 44 28 42 56 Tart cherries, harvested : 97 87 90 NA Winter wheat, harvested : 97 89 95 99 ------------------------------------------------------------ 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 08/08/04 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 : 79 37 1,165 1,293 0.24 1.14 1.51 15.21 Marquette : 83 43 1,072 1,262 0.19 0.66 1.12 14.27 Stephenson : 85 42 1,324 1,508 0.05 0.28 1.23 15.48 Western UP : 85 37 -3 1,166 1,313 1,305 0.24 1.03 1.44 13.50 13.80 3.69 : Cornell : 84 43 1,186 1,411 2.28 2.84 3.69 14.23 Sault St Marie : 82 46 954 1,237 0.01 0.24 1.96 12.42 Eastern UP : 84 40 -3 1,007 1,216 1,122 0.76 1.06 1.97 12.56 12.91 3.53 : Beulah : 84 47 1,378 1,444 0.21 0.34 0.55 16.05 Lake City : 85 44 1,383 1,399 0.02 0.02 0.94 14.55 Old Mission : 85 49 1,287 1,408 0.00 0.32 1.28 14.10 Pellston : 85 41 1,263 1,388 0.03 0.32 1.16 10.71 Northwest : 85 41 -1 1,287 1,378 1,479 0.06 0.30 1.29 13.51 12.07 3.11 : Alpena : 86 49 1,306 1,359 0.71 0.79 3.64 13.18 Houghton Lake : 86 43 1,445 1,499 0.22 0.23 1.10 13.89 Rogers City : 86 46 1,290 1,401 0.22 0.29 2.34 13.25 Northeast : 87 37 -2 1,363 1,442 1,431 0.26 0.32 2.21 13.56 12.16 3.12 : Fremont : 88 44 1,617 1,669 0.18 0.18 1.06 14.61 Hart : 86 40 1,494 1,534 0.02 0.09 0.72 16.56 Muskegon : 84 50 1,622 1,675 1.34 1.36 1.88 18.73 West Central : 88 40 -2 1,546 1,591 1,619 0.31 0.34 0.93 17.83 12.18 3.60 : Alma : 88 47 1,721 1,673 0.43 0.48 1.63 17.30 Big Rapids : 87 43 1,609 1,551 0.06 0.06 1.24 15.85 Central : 88 43 -1 1,679 1,606 1,688 0.37 0.41 1.71 16.90 13.17 3.64 : Bad Axe : 89 51 1,544 1,441 0.71 0.95 1.68 15.65 Pigeon : 89 49 1,521 1,456 0.60 0.65 1.00 15.95 Saginaw : 88 49 1,701 1,614 0.26 0.45 0.85 14.38 Standish : 89 48 1,513 1,459 0.38 0.65 1.39 14.75 East Central : 89 45 -1 1,542 1,506 1,673 0.71 1.07 1.67 15.95 12.02 2.93 : Fennville : 85 45 1,656 1,621 0.68 0.83 1.38 13.52 Grand Rapids : 88 50 1,930 1,714 0.87 1.04 1.98 18.81 Holland : 86 47 1,737 1,660 0.85 0.97 2.16 12.98 South Bend, IN : 88 50 2,053 1,834 0.83 1.04 3.43 17.53 Watervliet : 87 48 1,828 1,674 1.37 1.91 3.17 18.97 Southwest : 90 42 -3 1,827 1,711 1,819 0.89 1.12 2.45 17.36 13.92 3.18 : Belding : 89 45 1,738 1,629 0.93 1.03 4.48 19.32 Coldwater : 84 48 1,777 1,660 0.65 1.38 5.18 19.26 Lansing : 87 46 1,806 1,693 1.08 1.47 3.57 18.85 South Central : 89 45 -3 1,814 1,712 1,801 0.88 1.40 4.33 19.03 13.77 3.36 : Detroit : 88 52 2,007 1,881 1.95 3.26 4.38 16.75 Flint : 87 49 1,856 1,774 1.15 2.35 3.20 16.11 Romeo : 89 50 1,815 1,656 1.29 2.64 3.60 20.65 Tipton : 87 49 1,797 1,687 0.83 2.16 2.81 16.52 Toledo, OH : 88 52 2,084 1,872 0.29 1.58 2.50 12.54 Southeast : 90 46 -3 1,852 1,776 1,784 0.97 2.54 3.97 17.71 13.31 3.12 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.