Mi-crop-weather State Michigan Crop Weather Released September 20, 2004 Week Ending Date September 19, 2004 Issue MI-CW3804 Agricultural Summary Above Normal Temperatures Continue Six days were suitable for fieldwork during the week ending September 19, according to the USDA-NASS-Michigan Statistical Office. Continued fair weather provided crops valuable time to mature. Corn and soybean growers especially welcomed the warm temperatures. Across the State, all districts reported above normal temperatures. Averages ranged from 3 degree above normal in the south central Lower Peninsula to 7 degrees above normal in the western Upper Peninsula and northwest Lower Peninsula. Precipitation amounts ranged from 0.03 inches in the southeast Lower Peninsula to 0.63 inches in the western Upper Peninsula. A grower in the south central commented, "Most corn is far enough along that more rain won't help, but some of the soybeans are still growing and some more moisture would be beneficial." A farmer in the Thumb summed up many farmers' sentiments, "The above normal temperatures have really helped beans and corn mature, but we still need continued warm weather." Field Crops Report Field Crops Warm temperatures across the State last week advanced many field crops. Hay harvest continued. Third cutting progressed nicely and fourth cutting was getting underway. Dry conditions have left some stands short. Corn progressed due to the warm weather and fields were drying rapidly. The soybean crop continued to advance with good color. Dry bean harvest was in full swing under ideal conditions. Sugarbeets continued to progress nicely, but the crop is in need of a little rain. Oat and barley harvest was completed. Wheat planting was underway in some counties. Fruit, Vegetable, and Specialty Crops Report Fruit In the southwest, harvest of apples for fresh market and processing continued. The main varieties being harvested were Jonathon, Jonagold, and early pickings of Golden Delicious. McIntosh harvest was underway in the west central, with good color, size and excellent firmness. Gala development was moving quickly, with the variety showing variable color. Color in Honeycrisps was excellent, with many blocks ready for spot picking. Fuji and Jonagold varieties were both showing good color and size. In the Ridge area, harvest of Empires began. The first picking of Honeycrisps finished, and growers were starting a second picking at some farms. In the southeast, Gala and Honeycrisp harvest was finishing up. Early Goldens were being picked on sandy sites. Most apple varieties were ahead of normal maturity in that region, and growers are anticipating many varieties ripening at the same time. Peach harvest has finished in the west central. Niagara grape harvest was completed in the southwest, and Concord harvest began. Vegetables Continued above normal temperatures helped push a wide variety of vegetable crops towards maturity. Growers continued to pick a number of vegetables for fresh market and processing. Potato harvest moved along. Processing tomato harvest moved along nicely in the southeast. Growers had picked close to 50 percent of the crop and reported good production. In the southwest, fresh market tomato harvest continued. Celery harvest moved along well and neared 70 percent complete. Farmers continued to report good yields and quality. In the southeast, pumpkin harvest began. Soil Moisture and Crop Condition Tables Soil moisture for week ending 09/19/04 --------------------------------------------- : Very : : : Stratum : short : Short :Adequate:Surplus --------------------------------------------- : Percent : Topsoil : 7 43 49 1 Subsoil : 6 33 60 1 --------------------------------------------- Crop condition for week ending 09/19/04 ----------------------------------------------------------- : Very : : : : Crop : poor : Poor : Fair : Good :Excellent ----------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : All Hay : 6 10 33 44 7 Corn : 5 13 34 35 13 Dry beans : 5 15 31 39 10 Pasture : 7 18 40 29 6 Soybeans : 4 8 36 41 11 ----------------------------------------------------------- Crop progress for week ending 09/19/04 ------------------------------------------------------------ : This : Last : Last :5-year Crop : week : week : year :average ------------------------------------------------------------ : Percent : All hay, third cutting : 76 72 82 79 All hay, fourth cutting : 18 16 9 19 Apples, harvested : 22 9 NA NA Corn, dough : 87 84 93 94 Corn, dent : 55 38 70 80 Corn, mature : 10 3 15 32 Corn silage, harvested : 19 13 47 51 Dry beans, turning leaves : 95 91 98 90 Dry beans, dropping leaves : 67 29 88 76 Dry beans, harvested : 17 0 46 31 Peaches, harvested : 99 93 NA NA Potatoes, harvested : 30 26 NA NA Soybeans, setting pods : 100 99 100 100 Soybeans, turning leaves : 50 31 76 82 Soybeans, dropping leaves : 15 6 39 45 Winter wheat, planted : 9 2 9 10 ------------------------------------------------------------ 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 09/19/04 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 39 1,691 2,012 0.66 0.90 2.39 19.04 Marquette : 83 38 1,601 1,940 0.84 1.38 3.44 18.88 Stephenson : 81 38 1,944 2,206 0.53 0.94 1.82 17.72 Western UP : 83 37 7 1,714 2,008 1,841 0.63 0.93 2.36 17.00 18.70 3.58 : Cornell : 80 43 1,733 2,121 0.58 0.89 2.43 18.65 Sault St Marie : 81 46 1,472 1,890 0.18 1.32 2.88 17.35 Eastern UP : 82 34 6 1,505 1,875 1,628 0.53 1.11 2.48 16.39 17.52 3.55 : Beulah : 85 45 2,031 2,195 0.12 0.47 3.47 20.82 Lake City : 82 39 1,965 2,065 0.26 0.78 2.50 17.40 Old Mission : 86 44 1,943 2,179 0.04 0.17 1.95 18.58 Pellston : 86 35 1,842 2,065 0.26 1.11 2.59 15.25 Northwest : 86 35 7 1,898 2,091 2,095 0.14 0.58 2.40 17.36 16.54 3.66 : Alpena : 86 37 1,920 2,048 0.06 0.30 0.88 15.07 Houghton Lake : 84 33 2,070 2,193 0.16 0.73 1.79 16.21 Rogers City : 85 37 1,895 2,153 0.19 0.59 1.76 17.71 Northeast : 86 33 6 1,958 2,151 2,028 0.17 0.59 1.61 16.21 16.52 3.47 : Fremont : 83 45 2,289 2,474 0.08 0.33 2.45 17.48 Hart : 84 45 2,137 2,314 0.39 0.57 1.35 18.92 Muskegon : 85 47 2,321 2,549 0.08 0.13 1.41 20.58 West Central : 85 41 6 2,206 2,392 2,287 0.23 0.36 1.80 20.39 16.81 3.19 : Alma : 84 42 2,410 2,474 0.10 0.34 2.55 20.55 Big Rapids : 84 43 2,252 2,259 0.24 0.45 3.48 20.19 Central : 84 41 5 2,352 2,364 2,360 0.12 0.33 2.51 19.99 17.63 3.09 : Bad Axe : 85 44 2,222 2,199 0.02 0.48 1.98 18.05 Pigeon : 86 41 2,194 2,174 0.02 0.55 2.63 19.07 Saginaw : 84 43 2,422 2,397 0.00 0.66 2.48 17.18 Standish : 85 39 2,167 2,152 0.00 0.75 2.95 18.08 East Central : 86 39 4 2,217 2,245 2,363 0.04 0.52 2.13 18.59 15.74 2.70 : Fennville : 86 46 2,351 2,437 0.18 0.32 1.30 14.97 Grand Rapids : 85 47 2,653 2,532 0.05 0.45 1.91 21.81 Holland : 86 46 2,458 2,499 0.11 0.15 1.97 15.61 South Bend, IN : 85 48 2,802 2,698 0.36 0.46 3.72 23.22 Watervliet : 86 47 2,543 2,466 0.97 1.21 4.37 23.52 Southwest : 88 42 4 2,540 2,530 2,573 0.42 0.59 2.99 21.09 18.12 3.26 : Belding : 83 43 2,398 2,406 0.02 0.56 2.14 22.17 Coldwater : 84 45 2,477 2,369 0.00 0.37 2.06 21.75 Lansing : 84 43 2,516 2,478 0.33 0.94 2.86 21.89 South Central : 86 43 3 2,510 2,491 2,528 0.21 0.58 2.53 22.04 17.92 2.79 : Detroit : 83 49 2,817 2,752 0.00 0.65 2.92 19.87 Flint : 84 42 2,566 2,588 0.22 0.70 1.76 18.52 Romeo : 83 48 2,547 2,415 0.02 1.46 2.15 23.38 Tipton : 86 47 2,516 2,458 0.00 0.43 0.98 18.06 Toledo, OH : 86 48 2,861 2,741 0.00 0.75 3.18 17.37 Southeast : 87 41 4 2,584 2,589 2,526 0.03 0.69 2.15 20.16 17.18 2.43 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.