Mi-crop-weather State Michigan Crop Weather Released May 31, 2005 Week Ending Date May 29, 2005 Issue MI-CW2305 Agricultural Summary Cool and Dry Six days were suitable for fieldwork during the week ending May 29, according to the USDA-NASS-Michigan Statistical Office. Precipitation amounts ranged from none in the central Lower Peninsula to 0.38 inches in the Upper Peninsula. Average temperatures ranged from 5 degrees below normal in the southwest Lower Peninsula to 1 degree above normal in the eastern Upper Peninsula. Crops continue to be affected by the persistent cool weather. Where there has been warmer weather, the crops have responded. A farmer in the central Lower Peninsula mentioned, "Somewhat warmer temperatures, the corn really looked yellow for a while, but two days of 70 degree weather made a significant change in the color." Shorter stands of alfalfa and grass hay were reported by several farmers across the State. A farmer in the Thumb reported, "Hay is shorter than usual due to the cool weather." Field Crops Report Light showers and scattered thunderstorm activity moved across the State. Temperatures during the week ranged from below normal to average. Corn growth continued to progress slowly. Some fields were in the 2 to 3 leaf stage. Most fields were reported as being pale in color. Soybean planting neared completion. Early planted fields were reported as setting their first trifoliate leaf while other fields emerged. Sugarbeet growth continued and many fields looked good. Alfalfa growth also continued with some fields at bloom. There were few reports of an early first cutting. Alfalfa weevil was spotted in some fields. Winter wheat varied across the State with some fields heading. There were continued reports of powdery mildew. Oats looked good but fields varied in growth stages. Barley looked good. Fruit Report Insect activity increased throughout the State last week in response to warmer temperatures. Growers found the weather favorable to begin chemically thinning some orchards. In the southwest, apples were showing good development. Apples grown in the southeast were developing nicely as well, with just scattered negative impact due to the freezing temperatures of early May. In the Ridge area, apple fruit set was strong and disease pressure was light, especially for apple scab, which has had few infection periods thus far. Apples were in petal fall along the Ridge. In the northwest, apple trees continued to blossom slowly. Tart and sweet cherry set varied throughout the southwest. Fruit development looked good. In the southeast, set on cherries was light and fruit size varied dramatically on sweet cherries. In the Ridge area, sweet cherries showed signs of poor pollination, but tart cherries set quite heavily. In the northwest, cherries were at petal fall. In the southeast, peaches were in shuck split. Peaches were in shuck in the west central part of the State. Strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries were nearing bloom in the west central and ranged into full bloom in the southeast. Vegetables Report Many vegetable growers were almost complete with planting various crops throughout the State. Some areas were below normal precipitation; however, the soil moisture was good in many areas. Asparagus production was still behind normal due to the cool temperatures and a severe labor shortage. Cabbage has progressed and was filling out. Carrots and onions were reported to be in excellent condition with slow and steady growth. Peas had progressed to flower. The first planting of snap beans was showing true leaves and developing nicely. Sweet corn has been growing slowly but the color has improved. Tunnel plants such as squash, zucchini, and cucumbers have grown considerably and were at five to eight leaves. Pepper planting was in full swing in many areas. Processing tomato planting was about two-thirds complete, and planting continued for fresh market tomatoes. Soil Moisture and Crop Condition Tables Soil moisture for week ending 05/29/05 --------------------------------------------- : Very : : : Stratum : short : Short :Adequate:Surplus --------------------------------------------- : Percent : Topsoil : 4 22 71 3 Subsoil : 6 22 70 2 --------------------------------------------- Crop condition for week ending 05/29/05 ----------------------------------------------------------- : Very : : : : Crop : poor : Poor : Fair : Good :Excellent ----------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : All Hay : 1 7 36 44 12 Barley : 0 1 17 72 10 Corn : 1 3 43 46 7 Oats : 1 3 17 61 18 Pasture : 1 4 40 44 11 Soybeans : 0 3 42 44 11 Winter Wheat : 1 8 27 55 9 ----------------------------------------------------------- Crop progress for week ending 05/29/05 ------------------------------------------------------------ : This : Last : Last :5-year Crop : week : week : year :average ------------------------------------------------------------ : Percent : All hay, first cutting : 16 2 5 7 Asparagus, harvested : 48 27 56 63 Barley, emerged : 100 84 84 80 Corn, planted : 98 88 76 83 Corn, emerged : 64 42 64 58 Dry beans, planted : 13 3 0 NA Oats, emerged : 99 93 96 92 Potatoes, planted : 86 81 68 81 Potatoes, emerged : 32 30 44 NA Soybeans, planted : 89 73 44 54 Soybeans, emerged : 39 15 32 31 Winter wheat, headed : 14 1 51 34 ------------------------------------------------------------ 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 05/29/05 1/ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : :Cumulative growing: : Temperature : degree days 2/ : Precipitation :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : : : : : : : : Normal Station : : :Departure: : : :This:Last :Last : Since :------------- :Maximum :Minimum : from :2005 :2004 :Normal:week: two :four :April 1: Since : For : : : normal : : : : :weeks:weeks: :April 1:month ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ironwood : 72 37 338 249 0.34 0.70 1.81 2.60 Marquette : 76 39 288 217 0.88 1.71 2.50 4.88 Stephenson : 75 39 336 344 0.19 1.25 2.40 3.69 Western UP : 76 36 0 307 241 293 0.38 1.07 2.26 3.50 5.47 3.37 : Cornell : 75 41 281 240 0.91 1.85 2.56 3.89 Sault St Marie : 77 37 258 136 0.09 0.11 1.61 2.86 Eastern UP : 77 35 1 267 185 202 0.38 0.92 2.04 3.53 5.23 3.01 : Beulah : 70 41 399 330 0.04 1.05 1.82 3.13 Lake City : 74 38 355 336 0.30 1.77 2.52 3.63 Old Mission : 70 39 347 275 0.09 1.11 1.69 2.92 Pellston : 75 33 343 291 0.16 0.65 1.42 2.78 Northwest : 75 33 -3 343 288 350 0.14 1.05 1.70 2.92 5.17 2.61 : Alpena : 76 37 296 290 0.17 0.18 0.73 2.61 Houghton Lake : 75 36 361 357 0.04 1.12 1.67 2.44 Rogers City : 76 38 342 264 0.20 0.86 1.42 2.83 Northeast : 77 34 -2 348 322 326 0.18 0.83 1.45 2.83 5.17 2.76 : Fremont : 76 42 440 470 0.06 0.34 1.41 1.81 Hart : 71 40 404 401 0.11 1.06 2.00 2.71 Muskegon : 70 42 413 457 0.09 0.51 2.23 2.66 West Central : 76 38 -3 412 427 400 0.09 0.72 1.81 2.25 5.71 2.67 : Alma : 75 42 425 488 0.00 0.21 1.32 1.98 Big Rapids : 75 39 417 449 0.00 0.00 0.92 0.92 Central : 76 38 -3 421 468 436 0.00 0.18 1.23 1.74 5.76 2.79 : Bad Axe : 74 44 367 391 0.10 0.54 1.55 3.44 Pigeon : 74 43 343 377 0.00 0.61 1.40 2.31 Saginaw : 73 44 367 458 0.11 0.72 2.12 3.50 Standish : 74 44 363 399 0.14 0.96 2.05 3.46 East Central : 75 40 -2 349 415 417 0.23 0.89 1.96 3.35 5.08 2.63 : Fennville : 74 41 457 499 0.06 0.69 1.33 1.95 Grand Rapids : 74 43 457 597 0.02 0.50 2.01 2.83 Holland : 72 43 457 523 0.04 0.31 0.43 1.25 South Bend, IN : 73 42 542 657 0.00 0.52 0.88 1.91 Watervliet : 73 43 494 559 0.14 0.76 1.61 2.40 Southwest : 75 41 -5 487 573 471 0.16 0.64 1.38 2.21 6.23 3.01 : Belding : 76 38 429 533 0.00 0.59 2.13 3.36 Coldwater : 74 39 447 539 0.05 0.68 1.54 2.28 Lansing : 75 42 460 553 0.09 0.87 1.72 2.78 South Central : 76 38 -4 458 575 470 0.03 0.52 1.43 2.17 6.01 2.92 : Detroit : 75 47 467 601 0.09 1.06 1.83 3.62 Flint : 74 38 430 587 0.06 0.61 1.37 2.70 Romeo : 74 42 416 526 0.07 0.92 1.90 4.15 Tipton : 75 44 480 560 0.16 1.10 2.51 3.93 Toledo, OH : 76 44 485 669 0.32 1.05 1.68 4.10 Southeast : 77 38 -2 451 586 447 0.14 0.96 1.85 3.93 5.97 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.