mi-crop-weather State Michigan Crop Weather Released July 21, 2008 Week Ending Date July 20, 2008 Issue MI-CW2908 Agricultural Summary Hot and Humid Five days were suitable for fieldwork during the week ending July 20, according to the USDA, NASS, Michigan Field Office. Precipitation varied from 0.43 inches in the central Lower Peninsula to 2.24 inches in the northeastern Lower Peninsula. Average temperatures ranged from normal in the western Upper Peninsula to 2 degrees above normal in the northwestern, west central, central, and southeastern Lower Peninsula. Hot, humid weather was experienced in most locations across the State. The weather allowed for superb growing conditions. A farmer in the west central region reported, "The corn sure enjoyed this hot, humid weather with some tassels being observed this week. You can almost watch it grow!" Rains were observed and welcomed in many locations. "We continue to receive very timely rains over most of the sugarbeet growing area. Rainfall has been scattered and heavy at times, but the crop has only been made better with last week's high temperatures and good rains," a reporter in the Thumb region stated. Field Crops Report Field Crops Crops responded well to the warmth and humidity this past week. Rains boosted growth in some crops but hindered others. Corn grew well in the warm, humid weather and was mostly in good to excellent condition. Ears were silking quickly. The warmth was reported to improve soybean condition in many areas following a slow start this year, although some were still in fair condition. Winter wheat harvest was approaching completion in some areas of the State. In other areas, humidity and rain have kept moisture levels high, so farmers were waiting for drier weather to harvest. Regrowth of alfalfa benefited from the weather. Many growers were able to harvest a second cutting this week, but rains and moisture slowed harvest in other areas. Dry beans were in fair to good condition. Some farmers reported damage from excess moisture. The sugarbeet crop looked good. Development of Cercospora was the primary concern at this time. Oats were turning color quickly with harvest just beginning in select areas. The majority of the barley crop was in good condition. Fruit, Vegetable, and Specialty Crops Report Fruit Apples continued to size well in the northwest and west central. In the southeast, apples grew to 2.3 inches; apple maggot emergence was widespread. Blueberry harvest began on early varieties in the southeast. In the southwest, blueberry harvest was in full swing. Peaches grew to 2.25 inches in the southeast, as harvest of early varieties began in the southwest. Pears were 1.5 inches in diameter. Plums continued to size well, with most around 1.1 inches in the southeast. Japanese plums were being picked in the southwest. Sweet cherry harvest was underway in the northwest; additional rainfall increased grower concern for fruit cracking as well as brown rot and cherry leaf spot infections. Tart cherry harvest began in the northwest and west central; harvest ended in the southwest and was approximately three- quarters complete in the southeast. Summer red raspberry harvest was in full swing in the southeast with some gaps in ripening taking place; harvest slowed in the southwest. Grapes were nearing berry touch in the northwest. Vegetables Warm, dry weather has been good for growth, and even the crops stressed by earlier flooding were looking better. Asparagus new fern growth was progressing well. Cabbage growth and harvest was moving along well with good quality in many fields. For carrots, foliar diseases seemed to be threatening and many farmers began treating for bacterial blight. Cauliflower was planted in fields where sweet corn had been harvested. Celery was doing better and growing rapidly after a period of excessive water in fields. Cucumbers, melons, squash, and zucchini were maturing. The first few rounds of picking were underway in cucumber fields. Eggplants experienced problems with Colorado potato beetles. Although flooding damaged some fields, onion growth was recovering. Bulb diameter was approaching two inches in some fields. Peppers were maturing well, and preliminary rounds of harvesting took place. Potato canopy closure and tuber bulking were occurring at a fast pace. Radish growth and harvest continued. The second crop appeared to be doing well. Summer snap bean plantings were growing normally in most areas. Sweet corn was being harvested in the southwest. Some plantings had high numbers of Japanese beetles feeding on the leaves. Greenhouse grown and market tomatoes were being harvested. Processing tomato fields were developing well. Soil Moisture and Crop Condition Tables Soil moisture for week ending 07/20/08 --------------------------------------------- : Very : : : Stratum : short : Short :Adequate:Surplus --------------------------------------------- : Percent : Topsoil : 3 11 74 12 Subsoil : 3 16 77 4 --------------------------------------------- Crop condition for week ending 07/20/08 ----------------------------------------------------------- : Very : : : : Crop : poor : Poor : Fair : Good :Excellent ----------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : All Hay : 2 5 20 57 16 Barley : 1 5 26 66 2 Corn : 0 3 14 52 31 Dry beans : 3 7 20 52 18 Oats : 0 4 21 61 14 Pasture : 1 4 28 51 16 Soybeans : 1 7 24 49 19 Winter Wheat : 0 4 23 48 25 ----------------------------------------------------------- Crop progress for week ending 07/20/08 ------------------------------------------------------------- : This : Last : Last :5-year Crop : week : week : year :average ------------------------------------------------------------- : Inches : Corn, height : 56 44 61 54 : : Percent : All hay, second cutting : 50 29 59 53 Blueberries, harvested : 27 15 25 21 Corn, silked : 28 2 50 34 Dry beans, blooming : 10 NA 14 22 Oats, turning yellow : 58 19 65 58 Oats, harvested : 2 NA NA NA Peaches, harvested : 4 NA NA NA Soybeans, blooming : 64 31 63 54 Soybeans, setting pods : 6 NA 22 15 Strawberries, harvested : 95 85 100 100 Tart cherries, harvested : 26 10 52 58 Winter wheat, harvested : 47 4 79 46 ------------------------------------------------------------- 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 07/20/08 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 : 82 48 926 1,216 1.16 1.95 3.02 10.83 Marquette : 80 52 865 1,146 1.34 2.13 3.46 12.93 Stephenson : 87 52 1,147 1,295 1.56 3.15 3.87 13.01 Western UP : 87 45 0 954 1,194 996 1.09 1.85 2.93 11.14 11.41 3.42 : Cornell : 81 54 992 1,227 0.68 2.05 3.04 11.59 Sault St Marie : 83 50 859 1,100 0.56 1.86 2.87 10.89 Eastern UP : 84 46 1 873 1,117 826 0.69 1.73 3.79 11.78 10.60 3.19 : Beulah : 90 57 1,230 1,344 0.35 0.81 1.90 15.17 Lake City : 88 46 1,180 1,302 0.67 0.80 1.83 16.83 Old Mission : 88 53 1,160 1,266 0.54 0.84 1.35 9.91 Pellston : 87 46 1,124 1,254 0.95 1.46 2.52 11.73 Northwest : 90 46 2 1,133 1,257 1,140 0.71 0.97 1.85 12.77 10.32 2.99 : Alpena : 85 46 1,162 1,279 3.52 4.22 5.87 12.98 Houghton Lake : 87 46 1,229 1,311 1.12 1.33 2.27 14.27 Rogers City : 87 47 1,152 1,304 2.04 2.37 3.43 13.73 Northeast : 89 46 1 1,188 1,290 1,096 2.24 2.59 3.87 13.52 10.14 3.18 : Fremont : 86 52 1,312 1,462 0.15 1.06 2.72 11.92 Hart : 88 52 1,258 1,377 0.19 2.09 4.13 14.03 Muskegon : 85 56 1,285 1,471 0.27 1.86 3.45 11.68 West Central : 94 48 2 1,268 1,411 1,259 1.01 2.51 4.07 14.58 10.43 2.54 : Alma : 92 52 1,395 1,543 0.41 0.66 1.45 8.27 Big Rapids : 90 52 1,351 1,364 0.34 0.87 2.71 10.68 Central : 92 50 2 1,358 1,451 1,320 0.43 0.93 2.26 9.00 11.22 2.97 : Bad Axe : 88 56 1,350 1,386 1.23 2.72 5.08 12.41 Pigeon : 90 50 1,305 1,356 0.94 1.74 3.70 9.15 Saginaw : 91 53 1,450 1,544 0.95 1.28 4.86 10.91 Standish : 88 47 1,271 1,368 1.28 1.78 3.34 10.55 East Central : 91 47 1 1,320 1,418 1,304 1.19 1.77 3.80 10.46 10.20 2.92 : Fennville : 87 56 1,315 1,470 0.75 1.98 3.82 16.47 Grand Rapids : 89 56 1,524 1,662 0.24 1.21 5.59 15.43 Holland : 90 60 1,516 1,626 0.52 2.67 5.86 17.08 South Bend, IN : 91 56 1,597 1,769 0.81 2.08 3.37 10.86 Watervliet : 88 56 1,451 1,609 1.14 2.40 4.48 13.70 Southwest : 91 52 1 1,466 1,599 1,422 0.97 2.40 4.86 15.13 11.97 3.09 : Belding : 88 50 1,351 1,468 0.07 0.61 2.60 9.61 Coldwater : 87 53 1,471 1,509 0.61 1.29 4.61 11.22 Lansing : 89 53 1,492 1,559 0.90 1.29 4.44 11.33 South Central : 90 50 1 1,445 1,544 1,414 0.79 1.64 4.38 11.70 11.71 3.22 : Detroit : 89 57 1,636 1,691 0.58 1.44 4.27 10.09 Flint : 90 50 1,543 1,534 1.31 1.44 3.58 10.03 Romeo : 90 52 1,442 1,475 1.73 2.20 4.24 10.25 Tipton : 88 52 1,474 1,528 0.35 2.25 8.80 15.86 Toledo, OH : 91 53 1,616 1,681 0.27 1.01 6.91 13.97 Southeast : 91 47 2 1,491 1,566 1,385 0.82 1.81 5.40 12.75 11.50 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.