mi-crop-weather State Michigan Crop Weather Released May 1, 2006 Week Ending Date April 30, 2006 Issue MI-CW1706 Agricultural Summary Dry Planting Season Six days were suitable for fieldwork during the week ending April 30, according to the USDA, NASS, Michigan Field Office. Precipitation amounts ranged from 0.04 inches in the eastern Upper Peninsula and central Lower Peninsula to 0.41 inches in the western Upper Peninsula. Average temperatures ranged from normal in the east central, southwest, south central, and southeast Lower Peninsula to 2 degrees above normal in the eastern and western Upper Peninsula and northwest Lower Peninsula. This past week, several area across the State received frost, causing varying levels of damage to the crops. A farmer in the northwest mentioned that, "Cold mornings on April 26 and 28 damaged apricots and sweet cherries. Approximately 20 percent of the open blossoms were damaged but still left plenty for a good crop." A farmer in the southwest mentioned that, "The hay crop continues to grow. A frost laid the hay right over, but it looks like it has come out of it alright." Field Crops Report Field Crops Dry conditions were ideal for early spring planting but have caused dust comparable to that of the summer months. Rain was needed to settle dust and activate chemicals. Manure was being spread full force and herbicides were being applied. Corn planting was underway. Soybean planting was active in some areas. Most sugarbeets have been planted and were beginning to emerge. Some frost damage was reported. Hay wintered well and was growing quickly, with an early first cutting expected. Most oats were in and have begun to emerge. Wheat was reported to need rain soon. Fruit, Vegetable, and Specialty Crops Report Fruit Warm, mild temperatures across Michigan resulted in fruit being about one week ahead of normal development. Tree planting was underway. Tree fruits were blooming and bee activity was heavy. Apples in the southwest were at the pink stage. Early varieties were opening. In the Grand Rapids area, most apple varieties were at open cluster. Climbing cutworm damage in apple buds was reported. Early varieties of blueberries began blooming in the southeast; leaves were unfolding. Blueberries in the west central were developed in tight cluster to one-quarter inch green. Peaches were at petal fall in the southwest; bloom was very heavy. In the southeast, peaches were at first bloom. Pears were at open cluster in most areas. Tart cherries were in full bloom in the southwest and were starting to show white bud in the west central. Sweet cherries were blooming in the west central and were showing first bloom in the northwest. Plums in the southeast were at popcorn or white flower. Grape buds have burst in the southwest. Cutworms were a concern in the northwest. Strawberry bloom began in the southwest. In the southeast, flower buds have emerged from the crown and were susceptible to frost damage. Vegetables Vegetable growers started planting various crops throughout the State. Asparagus harvest has begun at a limited level. In the west central, much of the emerged asparagus was damaged due to a frost. Early plantings of carrots have emerged. Planting of celery, cabbage, sweet corn, potatoes, and tomatoes began in many areas across the State and remained on schedule. Soil Moisture and Crop Condition Tables Soil moisture for week ending 04/30/06 --------------------------------------------- : Very : : : Stratum : short : Short :Adequate:Surplus --------------------------------------------- : Percent : Topsoil : 6 22 68 4 Subsoil : 1 20 75 4 --------------------------------------------- Crop condition for week ending 04/30/06 ----------------------------------------------------------- : Very : : : : Crop : poor : Poor : Fair : Good :Excellent ----------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : Pasture : 2 6 29 48 15 Winter Wheat : 0 1 18 58 23 ----------------------------------------------------------- Crop progress for week ending 04/30/06 ---------------------------------------------------------------- : This : Last : Last : 5-year Crop : week : week : year :average ---------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : Asparagus, harvested : 9 3 NA NA Barley, planted : 50 45 67 40 Barley, emerged : 10 NA 21 17 Corn, planted : 31 8 34 21 Corn, emerged : 1 NA 1 1 Oats, planted : 79 55 86 62 Oats, emerged : 39 12 31 26 Potatoes, planted : 31 17 20 NA Soybeans, planted : 8 NA 8 5 Sugarbeets, planted : 89 66 99 81 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Contact Information U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service Michigan Field 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 04/30/06 1/ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : :Cumulative growing: : Temperature : degree days 2/ : Precipitation :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : : : : : : : : Normal Station : : :Departure: : : :This:Last :Last : Since :------------- :Maximum :Minimum : from :2006 :2005 :Normal:week: two :four :April 1: Since : For : : : normal : : : : :weeks:weeks: :April 1:month ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ironwood : 68 23 157 139 0.41 0.91 1.05 1.15 Marquette : 69 20 124 110 0.06 0.87 1.23 1.27 Stephenson : 63 24 166 156 0.48 0.86 0.98 0.98 Western UP : 72 20 2 138 120 76 0.41 0.91 1.06 1.14 2.28 2.28 : Cornell : 73 23 149 112 0.07 0.90 1.28 1.44 Sault St Marie : 64 27 98 88 0.03 0.33 1.17 1.33 Eastern UP : 73 15 2 122 97 38 0.04 0.56 1.33 1.47 2.43 2.43 : Beulah : 71 27 182 191 0.15 0.69 1.28 2.10 Lake City : 70 23 163 156 0.09 0.81 1.80 3.68 Old Mission : 71 25 158 144 0.15 0.43 1.56 1.67 Pellston : 70 20 151 128 0.11 0.89 1.61 1.75 Northwest : 71 20 2 154 146 96 0.12 0.61 1.64 2.29 2.69 2.69 : Alpena : 70 23 123 94 0.14 0.39 1.22 1.73 Houghton Lake : 69 25 170 158 0.07 0.22 0.94 2.02 Rogers City : 69 25 154 99 0.11 0.33 1.37 2.09 Northeast : 71 19 1 155 133 87 0.11 0.36 1.34 2.17 2.52 2.52 : Fremont : 67 25 183 196 0.10 0.15 3.34 3.67 Hart : 67 27 169 184 0.23 0.38 2.61 3.02 Muskegon : 67 27 165 190 0.47 0.59 2.03 3.20 West Central : 67 25 1 173 191 118 0.23 0.42 2.64 3.22 3.16 3.16 : Alma : 71 29 203 212 0.04 0.16 2.20 2.28 Big Rapids : 71 29 212 184 0.04 0.04 2.08 2.08 Central : 71 25 1 202 196 132 0.04 0.12 2.26 2.34 3.07 3.07 : Bad Axe : 69 27 155 141 0.21 0.21 1.69 2.11 Pigeon : 73 29 152 115 0.21 0.27 2.14 2.40 Saginaw : 69 29 174 140 0.08 0.45 2.01 2.38 Standish : 69 25 182 144 0.17 0.62 2.68 3.10 East Central : 73 25 0 160 141 126 0.15 0.39 2.02 2.30 2.55 2.55 : Fennville : 68 26 182 208 0.27 0.29 1.99 2.05 Grand Rapids : 67 28 199 207 0.12 0.16 1.89 2.21 Holland : 67 29 196 210 0.41 0.41 1.97 2.29 South Bend, IN : 68 27 226 239 0.71 0.74 2.12 2.43 Watervliet : 67 27 206 225 0.32 0.36 1.61 1.78 Southwest : 69 24 0 203 221 149 0.31 0.33 1.56 1.72 3.41 3.41 : Belding : 68 27 190 201 0.03 0.11 2.12 2.23 Coldwater : 68 25 208 187 0.09 0.16 1.32 1.44 Lansing : 67 29 199 210 0.08 0.19 1.70 1.90 South Central : 71 25 0 203 212 150 0.09 0.18 1.23 1.37 3.19 3.19 : Detroit : 72 34 213 197 0.04 0.71 2.47 2.71 Flint : 66 27 178 187 0.01 0.59 2.11 2.21 Romeo : 68 32 182 178 0.02 0.74 2.96 3.03 Tipton : 69 27 218 208 0.20 0.31 1.32 1.32 Toledo, OH : 72 28 248 190 0.10 0.16 0.95 1.38 Southeast : 73 25 0 210 193 139 0.08 0.47 1.92 2.13 3.21 3.21 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Issued by the USDA, NASS, Michigan Field Office 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.