mi-crop-weather State Michigan Crop Weather Released April 28, 2008 Week Ending Date April~27, 2008 Issue MI-CW1708 Agricultural Summary Planting is Underway Five days were suitable for fieldwork during the week ending April 27, according to the USDA, NASS, Michigan Field Office. Precipitation varied from 0.09 inches in the southeastern Lower Peninsula to 1.54 inches in the northwestern Lower Peninsula. Average temperatures ranged from 4 degrees above normal in the western Upper Peninsula to 10 degrees above normal in the northeastern Lower Peninsula. Sunny days and warmer than average temperatures have allowed farmers to get into the fields and initiate planting operations. Many who have planted are already wishing for rain for their recently planted crops. A farmer stated, "Planted crops need a shower to help speed emergence and help the ground to cure out a bit more even." On the other hand, some fields are still too wet or cold to commence planting. "Corn planting will begin as soon as the ground temperature rises above 50 degrees," another farmer stated. Field Crops Report Field Crops Warm temperatures were ideal for spring planting in a number of vicinities, while some farmers were looking forward to the drying of their fields. Corn planting was underway in a number of areas, but some were waiting for warmer, drier ground. Sugarbeet planting was progressing rapidly and was nearing completion in many areas. A small amount of soybeans were planted, and many farmers expected to plant in the coming week. Winter wheat was generally in good condition and has been top dressed for the most part. Planting of oats progressed as normal, while barley planting was slightly behind normal. Alfalfa fields looked good with some planting underway. Hay was growing well although standing water was reported in a few areas. Fruit, Vegetable, and Specialty Crops Report Fruit Warm temperatures continued to push crop development ahead of normal. Tree planting and fertilization were major activities getting underway in many Michigan orchards. Apples were ahead of normal in the southeast, with most in tight cluster to pre-pink, and even a few at pink stage. In northwest Michigan, apples were at half-inch green. Apricots began to bloom. Pears were in tight cluster and bud burst. Peaches were at calyx red stage as trimming continued. Sweet and Tart cherries were at early green tip. Plums were at bud burst to green tip. Strawberries experienced good growth development, and the strawberries were uncovered on most farms. Blueberries were at bud swell or early green tissue. Grapes were at scale crack to first swelling of buds. Vegetables The warm, drier weather experienced the past two weeks and generally good field conditions allowed Michigan growers to get the season off to a good start. In the west central, carrot planting progressed well and some asparagus spears started to emerge since the warm temperatures pushed crop development ahead of schedule. Onion plantings got underway in the east central while celery growers were able to catch up given the current conditions. Transplanting of tomatoes should begin by the end of this week and early planted cabbage that had already been transplanted was advancing nicely. There were no real pest problems. Farmers across the State continued to work the soil and prepare equipment for the planting season. Soil Moisture and Crop Condition Tables Soil moisture for week ending 04/27/08 --------------------------------------------- : Very : : : Stratum : short : Short :Adequate:Surplus --------------------------------------------- : Percent : Topsoil : 0 17 71 12 Subsoil : 0 5 79 16 --------------------------------------------- Crop condition for week ending 04/27/08 ----------------------------------------------------------- : Very : : : : Crop : poor : Poor : Fair : Good :Excellent ----------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : Pasture : 1 13 25 52 9 Winter Wheat : 1 4 19 63 13 ----------------------------------------------------------- Crop progress for week ending 04/27/08 ---------------------------------------------------------------- : This : Last : Last : 5-year Crop : week : week : year :average ---------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : Barley, planted : 10 0 15 31 Barley, emerged : 1 0 0 7 Corn, planted : 12 1 7 17 Corn, emerged : 0 0 0 0 Oats, planted : 50 21 49 58 Oats, emerged : 5 NA 11 18 Potatoes, planted : 22 11 20 16 Potatoes, emerged : 0 0 0 NA Soybeans, planted : 1 0 2 4 Sugarbeets, planted : 85 37 65 75 ---------------------------------------------------------------- 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 04/27/08 1/ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : :Cumulative growing: : Temperature : degree days 2/ : Precipitation :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : : : : : : : : Normal Station : : :Departure: : : :This:Last :Last : Since :------------- :Maximum :Minimum : from :2008 :2007 :Normal:week: two :four :April 1: Since : For : : : normal : : : : :weeks:weeks: :April 1:month ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ironwood : 73 25 63 76 0.62 1.22 5.42 4.16 Marquette : 70 24 57 58 0.16 0.90 7.49 5.17 Stephenson : 72 31 98 89 0.55 1.14 4.94 4.33 Western UP : 73 24 4 71 73 62 0.48 1.10 5.32 4.06 2.07 2.28 : Cornell : 68 29 72 81 0.23 0.45 4.03 3.21 Sault St Marie : 69 33 82 70 1.20 1.27 4.81 3.62 Eastern UP : 72 29 6 66 64 29 0.46 0.81 4.31 3.28 2.23 2.43 : Beulah : 79 38 155 81 2.13 2.13 5.37 3.85 Lake City : 73 32 148 73 1.46 1.46 4.74 3.27 Old Mission : 76 35 141 76 1.06 1.06 3.88 3.38 Pellston : 78 32 137 87 1.10 1.10 3.88 2.67 Northwest : 79 32 9 143 75 80 1.54 1.54 4.39 3.37 2.40 2.69 : Alpena : 73 35 146 81 0.27 0.27 2.75 2.04 Houghton Lake : 74 37 154 83 0.65 0.65 3.31 2.27 Rogers City : 73 35 144 65 0.57 0.57 3.13 2.35 Northeast : 77 31 10 148 80 72 0.55 0.55 3.19 2.34 2.28 2.52 : Fremont : 80 34 167 100 1.16 1.16 4.74 3.40 Hart : 76 38 160 87 2.09 2.39 5.60 4.80 Muskegon : 78 40 158 92 0.80 0.80 4.12 2.55 West Central : 80 27 8 163 91 99 1.39 1.45 4.85 3.74 2.73 3.16 : Alma : 80 40 166 105 0.27 0.27 4.81 2.51 Big Rapids : 80 36 166 91 1.76 1.76 3.57 2.35 Central : 80 36 9 163 96 112 0.79 0.79 3.66 2.22 2.63 3.07 : Bad Axe : 79 42 186 77 0.07 0.07 2.68 1.53 Pigeon : 79 39 174 72 0.10 0.10 2.47 1.26 Saginaw : 80 41 179 99 0.13 0.13 3.10 1.55 Standish : 77 35 161 91 0.45 0.45 3.11 1.98 East Central : 81 35 9 168 86 107 0.15 0.15 2.88 1.72 2.21 2.55 : Fennville : 82 37 171 98 0.30 0.30 3.18 2.55 Grand Rapids : 82 39 200 112 0.44 0.44 4.48 3.49 Holland : 82 41 221 129 0.74 0.74 2.44 1.66 South Bend, IN : 83 37 212 141 0.39 0.44 2.80 2.14 Watervliet : 82 39 189 114 0.45 0.50 3.49 2.77 Southwest : 85 37 9 197 116 128 0.50 0.52 3.58 2.83 2.89 3.41 : Belding : 80 36 181 97 0.36 0.36 4.88 2.93 Coldwater : 80 39 188 112 0.19 0.23 2.86 2.04 Lansing : 79 41 199 112 0.13 0.13 3.14 2.13 South Central : 83 31 8 190 110 128 0.22 0.23 3.01 2.15 2.78 3.19 : Detroit : 82 41 219 135 0.06 0.07 1.33 0.82 Flint : 81 39 224 111 0.02 0.02 2.89 1.54 Romeo : 79 39 188 111 0.12 0.12 1.78 1.18 Tipton : 79 42 184 121 0.13 0.13 1.44 1.00 Toledo, OH : 81 38 198 139 0.00 0.05 2.37 1.63 Southeast : 82 36 9 199 122 118 0.09 0.11 1.95 1.34 2.84 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.