mi-crop-weather State Michigan Crop Weather Released July 7, 2008 Week Ending Date July 6, 2008 Issue MI-CW2708 Agricultural Summary Wet and Windy Weather Five days were suitable for fieldwork during the week ending July 6, according to the USDA, NASS, Michigan Field Office. Precipitation varied from 0.21 inches in the northwestern Lower Peninsula to 2.26 inches in the southeastern Lower Peninsula. Average temperatures ranged from 5 degrees below normal in the west central, east central, south central and southeastern Lower Peninsula to 1 degree above normal in the eastern Upper Peninsula. The stormy weather experienced on July 2, which caused flooding and crop damage in some fields, mainly affected the southern part of the State. The wind also made for unfavorable field activities. A grower in the southwest said, "Two inches of rain again this week. Everything is growing well that has not gone under water in wet areas of the field." However, a farmer in the northeast exclaimed, "It was finally dry enough for first cutting of hay to proceed, and it looked good." Field Crops Report Field Crops Corn condition varied throughout the State this week. Most was in good condition while the crop in other locations needed rain. Soybeans stands varied in condition. The growth of some were stunted by excess moisture, while others were in good condition. Winter wheat was quickly turning color. Many farmers reported that harvest expected to begin this week. The weather still did not cooperate with some alfalfa farmers who were trying to get the first cutting baled. Second cuttings are looking very good. Dry beans emerged quickly this week. Oats were for the most part headed and were just beginning to turn color. The majority of the barley crop was in good condition. Sugarbeets were also in good condition. Fruit, Vegetable, and Specialty Crops Report Fruit Apples continued to size nicely with most being in the range of 2.0 to 2.15- inches in diameter. There have been a small percentage of large apples being dropped in the southeast, but for the most part there was a fair crop of apples across the region. Apricots continued to grow. Harvest of early blueberries began last week and general harvest of early varieties will be in full swing this week. There were no reports of blueberry maggot catch in the southeast. Peaches were 2.0 inches in diameter in the southwest and the southeast; pit hardening is ready to begin. Pears continued to progress well, despite the large amounts of recent rainfall. Plums continued development and the pits were hard. Strawberry harvest was completed in the southeast, but continued in most areas. In the southwest, the strong storms Wednesday caused unharvested fruit to fall and there was some tree loss in tart cherries. There was also fruit cracking in sweet cherries due to the heavy rain with hail damage as well. Raspberry harvest was underway. Vegetables The weather varied across most of the State this past week with farmers having mixed reactions. Some believed it was another dry week with much needed rain, while others experienced severe storms. Celery planting continued, but slowed due to weather conditions. Squash and zucchini harvest continued. Some processing zucchini suffered from the extra precipitation, and weed control is questionable in some orchards. Asparagus harvest was completed. Growers feel the yields were ahead of last year, but still behind a normal yield. Tomato plants were demonstrating "wet feet" in some areas because of the recent heavy rainfall. There were no reports of serious disease or insect pressure in the southwest. Snap beans have mostly emerged and are growing well. Pumpkin plants were still growing and seem to be unaffected. Cucumbers were replanted on heavy soils. Harvest of processing peas was completed in most areas. Cabbage heads were still developing, and farmers are keeping a watchful eye on the excess water which could cause heads to split. Soil Moisture and Crop Condition Tables Soil moisture for week ending 07/06/08 --------------------------------------------- : Very : : : Stratum : short : Short :Adequate:Surplus --------------------------------------------- : Percent : Topsoil : 2 6 71 21 Subsoil : 2 11 76 11 --------------------------------------------- Crop condition for week ending 07/06/08 ----------------------------------------------------------- : Very : : : : Crop : poor : Poor : Fair : Good :Excellent ----------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : All Hay : 1 3 22 57 17 Barley : 0 1 11 85 3 Corn : 1 3 18 51 27 Dry beans : 4 6 33 46 11 Oats : 0 4 23 55 18 Pasture : 1 3 25 54 17 Soybeans : 1 9 28 45 17 Winter Wheat : 1 6 22 54 17 ----------------------------------------------------------- Crop progress for week ending 07/06/08 ------------------------------------------------------------- : This : Last : Last :5-year Crop : week : week : year :average ------------------------------------------------------------- : Inches : Corn, height : 32 21 43 32 : : Percent : All hay, first cutting : 86 78 96 92 All hay, second cutting : 17 7 23 20 Blueberries, harvested : 6 NA NA NA Dry beans, emerged : 89 44 99 95 Oats, headed : 89 74 89 85 Oats, turning yellow : 10 2 22 16 Soybeans, blooming : 21 3 26 9 Strawberries, harvested : 80 59 96 89 Tart cherries, harvested : 7 1/1 35 24 Winter wheat, turning yellow : 90 66 99 87 Winter wheat, harvested : 0 NA 11 3 ------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Revised. 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 07/06/08 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 : 86 43 699 1,014 0.32 1.07 2.22 9.55 Marquette : 85 46 653 944 0.32 1.33 3.27 10.80 Stephenson : 85 45 862 1,069 0.21 0.72 1.10 9.86 Western UP : 86 37 0 724 986 764 0.29 1.07 2.42 9.59 9.78 3.42 : Cornell : 85 47 756 972 0.26 0.99 2.22 9.54 Sault St Marie : 81 44 641 908 0.44 1.01 2.51 9.03 Eastern UP : 87 43 1 654 906 613 0.32 2.09 3.40 9.79 9.29 3.19 : Beulah : 84 44 930 1,100 0.50 1.09 4.37 14.36 Lake City : 81 44 914 1,032 0.53 1.03 7.22 16.03 Old Mission : 84 47 869 1,036 0.25 0.51 2.01 9.07 Pellston : 84 39 861 1,033 0.48 1.06 3.37 10.27 Northwest : 84 39 -3 861 1,023 888 0.41 0.86 3.92 11.85 8.79 2.99 : Alpena : 84 43 893 1,049 0.09 1.65 3.65 8.76 Houghton Lake : 81 42 946 1,077 0.16 0.94 4.02 12.89 Rogers City : 84 43 900 1,061 0.18 1.06 3.31 10.12 Northeast : 84 42 -3 918 1,061 848 0.21 1.29 3.64 10.55 8.73 3.18 : Fremont : 80 45 1,024 1,202 1.46 1.66 2.35 10.86 Hart : 80 47 962 1,120 1.59 2.04 3.11 11.94 Muskegon : 81 50 981 1,197 1.27 1.59 2.18 9.82 West Central : 81 43 -5 975 1,155 990 1.19 1.56 3.32 12.08 9.25 2.54 : Alma : 84 46 1,083 1,273 0.24 0.79 2.00 7.61 Big Rapids : 80 46 1,038 1,118 0.50 1.84 2.87 8.81 Central : 84 45 -4 1,054 1,194 1,048 0.54 1.33 2.31 7.82 9.73 2.97 : Bad Axe : 82 47 1,037 1,114 0.54 2.36 4.07 9.69 Pigeon : 83 46 1,002 1,100 0.34 1.96 3.09 7.41 Saginaw : 82 48 1,134 1,261 0.81 3.58 4.76 9.64 Standish : 83 43 984 1,118 0.38 1.56 2.91 8.77 East Central : 84 43 -5 1,016 1,152 1,028 0.61 2.03 3.54 8.71 8.77 2.92 : Fennville : 84 49 1,013 1,201 0.01 1.84 2.49 14.49 Grand Rapids : 84 50 1,191 1,354 3.18 4.38 4.52 14.22 Holland : 84 51 1,174 1,337 1.19 3.15 3.56 14.37 South Bend, IN : 88 48 1,253 1,465 0.78 1.29 1.81 8.78 Watervliet : 84 49 1,132 1,323 1.35 2.08 2.81 11.30 Southwest : 88 46 -4 1,217 1,313 1,127 1.53 2.46 3.16 12.63 10.57 3.09 : Belding : 82 43 1,062 1,205 1.56 1.99 2.41 9.00 Coldwater : 83 47 1,161 1,233 2.45 3.32 5.28 9.93 Lansing : 82 47 1,165 1,265 1.73 3.15 3.65 10.04 South Central : 86 43 -5 1,131 1,265 1,124 1.92 2.74 3.60 10.06 10.38 3.22 : Detroit : 83 52 1,277 1,373 1.73 2.83 4.66 8.65 Flint : 82 44 1,213 1,248 1.30 2.14 3.52 8.59 Romeo : 83 48 1,118 1,194 0.80 2.02 3.27 8.03 Tipton : 82 49 1,165 1,254 3.96 6.55 8.92 12.86 Toledo, OH : 85 50 1,255 1,376 3.72 5.90 8.30 12.96 Southeast : 85 43 -5 1,167 1,276 1,093 2.26 3.59 5.86 10.83 10.05 3.11 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.