mi-crop-weather State Michigan Crop Weather Released July 14, 2008 Week Ending Date July 13, 2008 Issue MI-CW2808 Agricultural Summary Warm Temperatures Five days were suitable for fieldwork during the week ending July 13, according to the USDA, NASS, Michigan Field Office. Precipitation varied from 0.25 inches in the northwestern Lower Peninsula to 1.50 inches in the west central Lower Peninsula. Average temperatures ranged from normal in the western and eastern Upper Peninsula to 2 degrees above normal in the northwestern and east central Lower Peninsula. Isolated rains fell across the State this past week dropping heavy rains in some areas and little rain in others. A farmer in the northwest reported "We were threatened all week with rain, but only less than a half inch was recorded here. It looks like I will have a decent second cutting of hay if we get some more moisture." Crops benefited from moisture in other areas. "Varied amounts of rain and warm temperatures have corn and beans growing very well," stated a farmer in the southwest region. Field Crops Report Field Crops Good growing weather was experienced in many parts of the State this week. Some localized damage in the south central region was reported from the hail on July 2. Corn continued to grow rapidly and looked very good in most areas. Tassel emergence was just beginning. The condition of soybeans varied across the State. On well drained soils, the crop was growing well. However, there were reports of uneven growth and yellowing in fields with excess moisture. Winter wheat harvest was just beginning in some of the drier areas of the State, with other areas moving slowly toward harvest. Many farmers expect to harvest this coming week. Second cutting of alfalfa was underway for some farmers, while others were struggling to wrap up the first harvest. Dry beans emerged nicely this week and were off to a good start. There were a few reports of moisture damage. Oats were turning color and the majority had headed. Barley was turning and was in good condition. The sugarbeet crop remained in good condition. Fruit, Vegetable, and Specialty Crops Report Fruit Apples ranged from 30 to 35 mm in the northwest to 2.3 inches in the southwest. The west central crop now appears better than earlier forecasted. Blueberry harvest of early varieties was underway in the southwest; fruit worm feeding was apparent. Peaches ranged from 1.5 to 2.25 inches in the southeast and southwest, respectively; harvest will begin this week. Pears grew to 1.5 inches with low incidence of disease. Plums ranged from 25 mm in the northwest to 1.25 inches in diameter in the southwest. Strawberry harvest ended and renovation began across the State. Sweet cherry harvest of mid-season varieties was underway in the southwest, and harvest wrapped up in the southeast. Fruit were 18 to 19 mm in the northwest. Tart cherry harvest began in the southwest and southeast; harvest will start early this week in the west central; fruit continued to color in the northwest. Grapes were at berry touch in the southwest and buckshot in the northwest. Summer raspberry harvest was underway. Vegetables Scattered rain was received early last week, but the warm, drier weather helped with crop development. Vegetable growers were concerned about foliar diseases so spraying occurred more than usual, but diseases have been well controlled thus far. Cabbage was being harvested while new transplants began growing. Growth of carrots progressed nicely, but there were reports of bacterial blight in the west central. Some celery and leeks in the southwest have been destroyed or stressed due to lack of rainfall. Cucumber, squash, and zucchini harvest continued with volume increasing as direct seeded fields came into production. Onions have not started to bulb, but fields looked good with growth at the six leaf stage and 15 to 18 inches in length. Potatoes were in a variety of growth stages from maturing vines to setting tubers. Pumpkins were blooming and runnering with powdery mildew found on some fields but were improving. The second radish crop appeared to be doing well. Early snap bean harvest began and July plantings have mostly emerged. Spinach harvest has been completed in some areas. Sweet corn improved with warmer weather and harvest from row covered plantings began. However, the crop was still behind schedule from previous years. Market tomatoes were just starting to be harvested and had very nice fruit quality. Processing tomato fields were also in good shape. Watermelons and cantaloups had softball-sized or larger fruit. Soil Moisture and Crop Condition Tables Soil moisture for week ending 07/13/08 --------------------------------------------- : Very : : : Stratum : short : Short :Adequate:Surplus --------------------------------------------- : Percent : Topsoil : 2 9 78 11 Subsoil : 1 12 78 9 --------------------------------------------- Crop condition for week ending 07/13/08 ----------------------------------------------------------- : Very : : : : Crop : poor : Poor : Fair : Good :Excellent ----------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : All Hay : 2 5 21 55 17 Barley : 1 10 27 60 2 Corn : 1 3 14 53 29 Dry beans : 3 6 21 54 16 Oats : 0 4 22 55 19 Pasture : 1 3 29 53 14 Soybeans : 2 9 31 44 14 Winter Wheat : 1 6 25 53 15 ----------------------------------------------------------- Crop progress for week ending 07/13/08 ------------------------------------------------------------- : This : Last : Last :5-year Crop : week : week : year :average ------------------------------------------------------------- : Inches : Corn, height : 44 32 53 43 : : Percent : All hay, first cutting : 95 86 99 96 All hay, second cutting : 29 17 39 35 Blueberries, harvested : 15 6 11 9 Corn, silked : 2 NA 23 12 Dry beans, emerged : 95 89 100 100 Oats, headed : 95 89 94 94 Oats, turning yellow : 19 10 37 36 Soybeans, blooming : 31 21 42 27 Strawberries, harvested : 85 80 100 96 Tart cherries, harvested : 10 7 41 42 Winter wheat, turning yellow : 99 90 100 98 Winter wheat, harvested : 4 0 48 18 ------------------------------------------------------------- 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 07/13/08 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 : 88 52 806 1,128 0.79 1.11 1.97 10.34 Marquette : 82 48 752 1,060 0.79 1.11 2.37 11.59 Stephenson : 86 51 1,002 1,198 1.59 1.80 2.37 11.45 Western UP : 88 46 0 835 1,104 877 0.76 1.05 1.96 10.35 10.54 3.42 : Cornell : 85 47 875 1,134 1.37 1.63 2.83 10.91 Sault St Marie : 80 46 744 1,011 1.30 1.74 2.54 10.33 Eastern UP : 85 43 0 757 1,030 716 1.06 1.35 3.58 10.82 9.88 3.19 : Beulah : 84 57 1,073 1,233 0.46 0.96 1.67 14.82 Lake City : 82 47 1,040 1,176 0.13 0.66 1.49 16.16 Old Mission : 84 50 1,013 1,171 0.30 0.55 0.97 9.37 Pellston : 82 43 991 1,163 0.51 0.99 2.20 10.78 Northwest : 84 43 2 991 1,155 1,011 0.25 0.68 1.44 12.13 9.56 2.99 : Alpena : 85 50 1,022 1,178 0.70 0.79 2.88 9.46 Houghton Lake : 82 47 1,083 1,212 0.21 0.37 1.55 13.10 Rogers City : 83 48 1,033 1,200 0.33 0.51 1.90 10.45 Northeast : 85 47 1 1,049 1,191 970 0.35 0.55 2.20 10.89 9.34 3.18 : Fremont : 80 54 1,162 1,343 0.91 2.37 2.57 11.77 Hart : 81 57 1,104 1,261 1.90 3.49 3.97 13.84 Muskegon : 82 61 1,129 1,345 1.59 2.86 3.21 11.41 West Central : 85 47 1 1,116 1,295 1,122 1.50 2.70 3.09 13.58 9.70 2.54 : Alma : 85 54 1,236 1,419 0.25 0.49 1.58 7.86 Big Rapids : 83 54 1,182 1,263 0.53 1.03 2.47 9.34 Central : 85 53 1 1,199 1,338 1,182 0.50 1.04 2.04 8.32 10.36 2.97 : Bad Axe : 84 55 1,193 1,263 1.49 2.03 4.39 11.18 Pigeon : 85 52 1,152 1,245 0.80 1.14 3.31 8.21 Saginaw : 82 55 1,292 1,417 0.33 1.14 4.18 9.97 Standish : 84 51 1,125 1,260 0.50 0.88 2.63 9.27 East Central : 85 51 2 1,168 1,300 1,163 0.58 1.18 3.15 9.28 9.46 2.92 : Fennville : 84 56 1,159 1,348 1.23 1.24 3.35 15.72 Grand Rapids : 84 59 1,354 1,519 0.97 4.15 5.35 15.19 Holland : 85 56 1,334 1,489 2.14 3.37 5.41 16.55 South Bend, IN : 88 61 1,425 1,628 1.27 2.05 2.63 10.05 Watervliet : 84 58 1,286 1,476 1.26 2.61 3.52 12.56 Southwest : 88 47 1 1,370 1,466 1,271 1.43 2.97 4.07 14.07 11.17 3.09 : Belding : 82 56 1,205 1,350 0.54 2.10 2.53 9.54 Coldwater : 84 55 1,310 1,382 0.68 3.13 4.54 10.61 Lansing : 83 57 1,326 1,423 0.39 2.12 3.60 10.43 South Central : 86 53 1 1,282 1,416 1,266 0.85 2.76 3.76 10.90 10.93 3.22 : Detroit : 87 58 1,458 1,547 0.86 2.59 4.07 9.51 Flint : 84 53 1,376 1,405 0.13 1.43 2.46 8.72 Romeo : 84 57 1,276 1,343 0.48 1.30 2.78 8.53 Tipton : 85 53 1,314 1,401 1.90 5.86 8.83 14.76 Toledo, OH : 86 56 1,435 1,544 0.74 4.46 6.92 13.70 Southeast : 87 50 1 1,326 1,433 1,236 0.99 3.26 4.93 11.83 10.76 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.