Mi-crop-weather State Michigan Crop Weather Released August 16, 2004 Week Ending Date August 15, 2004 Issue MI-CW3304 Agricultural Summary Continued Cool Five days were suitable for fieldwork during the week ending August 15, according to the USDA-NASS-Michigan Statistical Office. The State's crops endured well below normal temperatures for most of the week. Averages for the week ranged from 8 degrees below normal in the southwest Lower Peninsula to 6 degrees below normal in four of the State's districts. Since April 1, only the southwest district now has cumulative growing degree days at or above normal. Precipitation amounts ranged from 0.33 inches in the central Lower Peninsula to 0.94 inches in the western Upper Peninsula. A reporter in the Thumb summed up most growers sentiments, "Is it really August? Crops were behind to begin with, and these cool temperatures aren't helping things." A farmer in the northeast agreed, "Not really a good week. Too cold for growing and too wet to harvest any grain. Pretty much just used up days on the calendar." Field Crops Report Field Crops Cool temperatures continued this week, setting record lows in some parts of the State. Precipitation was variable. While most areas in the State reported adequate moisture, the southeast and east central remained dry. Hay cutting has slowed due to the cool, wet weather. Corn fields were variable and growth was slow because of the lack of heat. In the southeast, late planted corn had not yet begun to tassel. The soybean crop continued to advance slowly. Most fields were setting pods. Cyst nematode symptoms were reported in the Thumb. Sugarbeets continued to progress. Reports of cercospora leafspot were limited. Dry beans looked good but were behind schedule. In the northen Lower Peninsula, fields were setting pods. Fruit, Vegetable, and Specialty Crops Report Fruit Apple growers continued harvesting summer apple varieties in the southwest. Necrotic leaf blotch was showing up in Golden Delicious orchards. In the southeast, apples continued to size very well. Most varieties were 2.75 to 3.25 inches in diameter. Harvest of early varieties continued there. Early variety apples were being harvested in the west central. Size and color were excellent. In the southwest, peach harvest continued. Size was excellent. Split pits, which were common in early varieties, were becoming rare. In the southeast, peach harvest continued. Early peach harvest started in the west central. Split pits in peaches were a common occurrence this year in the northwest. In the southwest, plums have colored and harvest of early European varieties began. In the southeast, plums continued to size well. European plums were beginning to color, with most being around 1.25 inches in diameter. Harvest of plums has started in the west central. In the southwest, Jersey and Rubel blueberry harvest has peaked. In the southeast, blueberry harvest was well along, and the crop looked excellent. In the Ridge area, the harvest of early blueberry varieties continued. Grapes in the southwest began veraison. In the southeast, grapes continued to size nicely. Some are now at berry touch. Early maturing grapes were beginning to color. In the northwest, grapes were at berry touch in Chardonnay and many other varieties. Vegetables Cool temperatures slowed the advancement of vegetable crops across the State. Harvest continued but at a slower pace. Sweet corn volume picked up. Growers continued digging early potatoes. Processing tomato harvest in the southeast was delayed due to the unseasonable temperatures. Statewide, growers continued to scout and treat for diseases in the crop. Harvest of peppers and eggplant in the southwest was slowed by cool temperatures. Cucumber and zucchini harvest continued. Some pollination problems were reported in zucchini. Celery harvest progressed on schedule. Cantaloups continued to color in the southeast, but very little harvest activity was reported. Pumpkins had started coloring. Carrot harvest was well underway in the southeast. West central growers continued to fight aster leafhopper and cercospora in the crop. Watermelon harvest had not yet started in the southwest. Cool temperatures have kept diseases to a minimum in asparagus; however, common asparagus beetle pressure was fairly heavy. Soil Moisture and Crop Condition Tables Soil moisture for week ending 08/15/04 --------------------------------------------- : Very : : : Stratum : short : Short :Adequate:Surplus --------------------------------------------- : Percent : Topsoil : 6 30 60 4 Subsoil : 5 25 68 2 --------------------------------------------- Crop condition for week ending 08/15/04 ----------------------------------------------------------- : Very : : : : Crop : poor : Poor : Fair : Good :Excellent ----------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : All Hay : 1 10 33 45 11 Barley : 3 7 33 37 20 Corn : 5 13 35 38 9 Dry beans : 5 8 31 43 13 Oats : 4 11 33 43 9 Pasture : 4 13 32 44 7 Soybeans : 4 10 34 44 8 ----------------------------------------------------------- Crop progress for week ending 08/15/04 ------------------------------------------------------------ : This : Last : Last :5-year Crop : week : week : year :average ------------------------------------------------------------ : Percent : All hay, second cutting : 73 70 86 83 All hay, third cutting : 17 10 21 21 Blueberries, harvested : 85 80 66 NA Corn, silked : 80 71 93 94 Corn, dough : 20 11 10 19 Dry beans, blooming : 94 80 86 90 Dry beans, setting pods : 57 40 49 64 Dry beans, turning leaves : 1 0 1 NA Oats, turning yellow : 94 91 100 100 Oats, harvested : 41 34 45 71 Peaches, harvested : 42 31 NA NA Soybeans, blooming : 87 82 91 94 Soybeans, setting pods : 60 44 66 73 Soybeans, turning leaves : 1 0 0 0 ------------------------------------------------------------ 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 08/15/04 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 : 73 34 1,226 1,415 1.18 1.42 2.33 16.39 Marquette : 81 39 1,140 1,384 0.89 1.08 1.55 15.16 Stephenson : 83 39 1,408 1,638 0.16 0.21 0.48 15.64 Western UP : 83 34 -7 1,237 1,443 1,409 0.94 1.17 1.98 14.43 14.35 3.69 : Cornell : 78 40 1,264 1,544 1.12 3.40 3.98 15.35 Sault St Marie : 75 44 1,023 1,369 1.22 1.23 1.49 13.64 Eastern UP : 78 35 -6 1,075 1,341 1,221 0.86 1.56 1.94 13.35 13.53 3.53 : Beulah : 76 45 1,474 1,583 0.70 0.91 1.14 16.75 Lake City : 75 38 1,447 1,541 0.34 0.36 0.53 14.89 Old Mission : 78 44 1,362 1,553 1.38 1.38 2.42 15.48 Pellston : 77 37 1,338 1,517 1.22 1.25 1.62 11.93 Northwest : 78 37 -6 1,362 1,514 1,592 0.95 1.05 1.75 14.50 12.71 3.11 : Alpena : 79 42 1,386 1,500 0.80 1.51 2.54 13.98 Houghton Lake : 78 36 1,522 1,640 0.52 0.74 0.96 14.41 Rogers City : 78 41 1,366 1,548 0.63 0.85 1.62 13.88 Northeast : 79 36 -6 1,441 1,585 1,543 0.56 0.82 1.54 14.12 12.81 3.12 : Fremont : 79 44 1,702 1,831 0.33 0.51 0.60 14.94 Hart : 78 42 1,576 1,677 0.46 0.48 0.66 17.02 Muskegon : 78 48 1,712 1,838 0.16 1.50 1.72 18.89 West Central : 79 41 -7 1,629 1,743 1,741 0.39 0.71 0.81 18.22 12.82 3.60 : Alma : 81 44 1,811 1,827 0.29 0.72 1.10 17.59 Big Rapids : 81 43 1,686 1,698 0.48 0.54 0.59 16.33 Central : 81 43 -7 1,763 1,756 1,812 0.33 0.70 1.11 17.23 13.79 3.64 : Bad Axe : 81 44 1,631 1,589 0.42 1.13 1.37 16.07 Pigeon : 81 41 1,613 1,594 0.49 1.09 1.15 16.44 Saginaw : 81 43 1,794 1,759 0.29 0.55 0.82 14.67 Standish : 81 44 1,597 1,594 0.33 0.71 1.44 15.08 East Central : 81 40 -7 1,630 1,649 1,799 0.46 1.17 1.71 16.41 12.58 2.93 : Fennville : 81 45 1,744 1,773 0.19 0.87 1.45 13.71 Grand Rapids : 81 49 2,020 1,870 0.57 1.44 2.48 19.38 Holland : 80 47 1,827 1,811 0.43 1.28 2.36 13.41 South Bend, IN : 83 48 2,146 1,995 1.22 2.05 3.70 18.75 Watervliet : 81 47 1,916 1,822 0.56 1.93 3.40 19.53 Southwest : 83 32 -8 1,914 1,864 1,955 0.49 1.38 2.51 17.85 14.47 3.18 : Belding : 80 48 1,815 1,779 0.34 1.27 2.06 19.66 Coldwater : 80 50 1,859 1,808 0.29 0.94 2.52 19.55 Lansing : 80 44 1,898 1,836 0.18 1.26 2.60 19.03 South Central : 82 44 -7 1,900 1,864 1,933 0.39 1.28 2.86 19.42 14.38 3.36 : Detroit : 81 51 2,118 2,052 0.01 1.96 3.57 16.76 Flint : 79 47 1,944 1,930 0.65 1.80 3.35 16.76 Romeo : 80 49 1,914 1,800 0.26 1.55 3.35 20.91 Tipton : 80 46 1,887 1,846 0.22 1.05 2.86 16.74 Toledo, OH : 76 48 2,184 2,042 1.22 1.51 3.37 13.76 Southeast : 85 46 -6 1,947 1,937 1,918 0.37 1.34 3.39 18.08 13.87 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.