mi-crop-weather State Michigan Crop Weather Released July 28, 2008 Week Ending Date July 27, 2008 Issue MI-CW3008 Agricultural Summary Varied Moisture Six days were suitable for fieldwork during the week ending July 27, according to the USDA, NASS, Michigan Field Office. Precipitation varied from 0.02 inches in the west central Lower Peninsula to 0.79 inches in the east central Lower Peninsula. Average temperatures ranged from 3 degrees below normal in the southwestern and south central Lower Peninsula to 1 degree below normal in the eastern Upper Peninsula, and the northwestern and northeastern Lower Peninsula. Temperatures this past week were slightly below normal but still fairly warm throughout the state. Growers in many areas reported that there is a need for rainfall, while others are saying that there is too much moisture. A reporter in the central region stated, "We still continue to battle too much moisture in some areas, while others are getting dry. There is a huge difference in moisture levels within a 2-3 mile drive!" Harvest of wheat and hay is great in the drier areas, but difficult in others due to moisture levels. "Second cutting hay is hard to harvest as we have had foggy mornings and overcast afternoons. Some wheat is getting harvested in the area but they have had the same problem with moisture," a farmer in the southwest reported. Field Crops Report Field Crops The varied moisture levels have presented a challenge for some farmers. Corn continued to grow well this past week and was tasseling in many fields. Most were optimistic about yield potential. Continue to monitor for pests such as cutworm and armyworm. Some of the soybeans that were having problems earlier were improved because of the sun and rains, but some fields still have yellow areas. At this stage, the majority of the crop is blooming and some are setting pods. A large amount of winter wheat was harvested this week and was approaching completion in many areas, but some were still harvesting as weather and moisture levels permit. Harvest of alfalfa is progressing. Rains and moisture slowed harvest in some areas while dry conditions were great for harvest in other areas. Dry beans stands were average and some reported damage due to excess moisture. The sugarbeet crop looked good. Growers were very optimistic about production potential. Oat harvest was just beginning in some areas, though many expected to begin this coming week. Barley remained in good condition. Fruit, Vegetable, and Specialty Crops Report Fruit Apples grew to 2.8 inches and 47 mm in diameter in the southwest and northwest, respectively. In the southeast, where new strikes of fire blight infections were found, apples grew to 2.5 inches. In the Grand Rapids area, apples sized well and growers were encouraged to closely scout for insect pests. Harvest of midseason apricots was underway in the southwest and northwest. Blackberry harvest continued in the southwest. Cranberries were at pinhead and small green fruit in the southwest. Blueberry harvest was underway across the State. In the southeast, where berries have been slow to ripen on many farms, the demand for pick your own and ready pick berries was excellent. In the southeast, harvest of early variety peaches began; oriental fruit moths were prevalent. Pears were 35 mm in the northwest and 2 inches in the southwest. In the southeast, pears grew to 1.75 inches; fire blight and leaf spot infections were found. Plums were 27 mm in the northwest, and harvest of 'Early Golden' and 'Methley' began in the southwest. Strawberry re-growth from renovation was underway in the southwest; renovation was completed in the southeast. Sweet cherry harvest was underway in the west central; a large amount of abandonment due to excessive splitting was expected. In the northwest, harvest was in full swing, as fruit quality was a challenge with frost scars and cracking from varied rainfall. In the southwest, sweet cherry harvest was completed and post-harvest pruning began. Tart cherry harvest was underway in the west central and northwest; harvest neared completion in the southeast. Raspberry harvest began in the northwest and continued in the southwest and southeast. Grapes were at cluster tightening in the southwest and berry touch in the northwest. Vegetables Temperatures continued about normal but rainfall amounts were low, and irrigation was underway where it was available. The first flush of fern on full season asparagus fields were fully expanded and most growers put down their first fungicide cover. Cabbage harvest continued at a good pace. Foliar diseases continued to be a concern for carrots. Root diameter in fields for processing was one to one and a half inches. Celery planting was completed in all areas and harvest was on schedule. Cantaloup harvest began this week. Watermelons were continuing to size with harvest approaching. Powdery mildew began to appear in most pumpkin fields. Early cucumber, yellow squash, and zucchini fields were finished and were being removed with some being replanted. Early virus symptoms were showing up. Onions continued to progress and bulbs were sizing at one to one and a half inches in diameter. Growers report normal insect and disease pressure with crop development possibly a little behind normal. Peppers and eggplants continued to grow well with few problems. Potatoes were ready earlier than expected and peas were almost done. Butternut and winter squash for processing were growing well with first bloom appearing. Summer snap bean plantings continued to grow normally in most areas. Sweet corn harvest just began and volume has increased as more fields come into production. There were no major problems reported. Harvest of market tomatoes were in full swing with good quality. Initial harvest of processing tomatoes is approaching. Pickle harvest presented a challenge as wet and warm weather has pushed pickle size and slowed harvesting operations. Soil Moisture and Crop Condition Tables Soil moisture for week ending 07/27/08 --------------------------------------------- : Very : : : Stratum : short : Short :Adequate:Surplus --------------------------------------------- : Percent : Topsoil : 9 19 67 5 Subsoil : 6 20 70 4 --------------------------------------------- Crop condition for week ending 07/27/08 ----------------------------------------------------------- : Very : : : : Crop : poor : Poor : Fair : Good :Excellent ----------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : All Hay : 2 4 22 54 18 Barley : 1 6 29 62 2 Corn : 2 4 16 46 32 Dry beans : 8 13 30 36 13 Oats : 1 4 22 55 18 Pasture : 1 6 32 47 14 Soybeans : 3 10 27 46 14 Winter Wheat : 1 4 24 46 25 ----------------------------------------------------------- Crop progress for week ending 07/27/08 ------------------------------------------------------------- : This : Last : Last :5-year Crop : week : week : year :average ------------------------------------------------------------- : Inches : Corn, height : 70 56 67 65 : : Percent : All hay, second cutting : 63 50 71 64 All hay, third cutting : 6 NA 9 6 Blueberries, harvested : 36 27 33 33 Corn, silked : 68 28 70 61 Corn, dough : 2 NA 4 2 Dry beans, blooming : 46 10 43 46 Dry beans, setting pods : 5 NA NA NA Oats, turning yellow : 78 58 82 75 Oats, harvested : 6 2 21 14 Peaches, harvested : 15 4 18 10 Potatoes, harvested : 1 NA NA NA Soybeans, blooming : 79 64 79 70 Soybeans, setting pods : 36 6 40 30 Tart cherries, harvested : 60 26 67 73 Winter wheat, harvested : 85 47 95 77 ------------------------------------------------------------- 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 07/27/08 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 : 81 43 1,040 1,376 0.33 1.49 2.60 11.16 Marquette : 80 48 973 1,299 0.26 1.60 2.71 13.19 Stephenson : 84 47 1,280 1,435 0.02 1.58 3.38 13.03 Western UP : 84 39 -2 1,070 1,348 1,117 0.36 1.44 2.50 11.50 12.27 3.42 : Cornell : 86 48 1,123 1,364 0.38 0.98 2.61 11.89 Sault St Marie : 79 54 976 1,235 1.04 1.60 3.34 11.93 Eastern UP : 86 45 -1 983 1,250 941 0.53 1.18 2.52 12.28 11.42 3.19 : Beulah : 82 52 1,363 1,485 0.43 0.78 1.74 15.60 Lake City : 82 51 1,309 1,436 0.20 0.87 1.53 17.03 Old Mission : 82 53 1,290 1,404 0.23 0.77 1.32 10.14 Pellston : 80 52 1,251 1,376 1.07 2.02 3.01 12.80 Northwest : 82 48 -1 1,261 1,389 1,271 0.37 1.11 1.80 13.16 10.99 2.99 : Alpena : 83 54 1,300 1,405 0.05 3.57 4.36 13.03 Houghton Lake : 81 51 1,358 1,436 0.46 1.58 1.95 14.73 Rogers City : 81 53 1,281 1,448 0.37 2.41 2.92 14.10 Northeast : 83 51 -1 1,318 1,420 1,226 0.38 2.62 3.17 13.90 10.99 3.18 : Fremont : 84 51 1,449 1,596 0.00 0.15 2.52 11.92 Hart : 82 50 1,388 1,507 0.00 0.19 3.68 14.03 Muskegon : 83 58 1,427 1,607 0.01 0.28 3.14 11.69 West Central : 84 50 -2 1,402 1,543 1,398 0.02 1.02 3.72 14.60 10.97 2.54 : Alma : 84 51 1,535 1,683 0.28 0.69 1.18 8.55 Big Rapids : 84 50 1,483 1,489 0.37 0.71 1.74 11.05 Central : 84 50 -2 1,493 1,584 1,463 0.41 0.83 1.87 9.40 11.83 2.97 : Bad Axe : 82 58 1,495 1,520 0.88 2.11 4.14 13.29 Pigeon : 83 56 1,444 1,484 0.40 1.34 2.48 9.55 Saginaw : 83 54 1,596 1,679 0.65 1.60 2.74 11.56 Standish : 84 53 1,404 1,486 1.50 2.78 3.66 12.05 East Central : 84 53 -1 1,460 1,546 1,448 0.79 1.98 3.16 11.25 10.84 2.92 : Fennville : 83 55 1,455 1,598 0.11 0.86 2.10 16.58 Grand Rapids : 84 58 1,684 1,812 0.01 0.25 4.40 15.44 Holland : 84 55 1,670 1,769 0.00 0.70 4.08 17.26 South Bend, IN : 84 57 1,747 1,913 0.06 0.87 2.92 10.92 Watervliet : 83 55 1,594 1,745 0.22 1.36 3.97 13.92 Southwest : 86 49 -3 1,613 1,736 1,576 0.19 1.16 4.29 15.47 12.68 3.09 : Belding : NA NA 1,491 1,605 0.00 0.07 2.17 9.61 Coldwater : 82 51 1,611 1,636 0.00 0.61 3.74 11.22 Lansing : 83 53 1,639 1,697 0.05 0.95 3.07 11.38 South Central : NA NA -3 1,587 1,678 1,564 0.21 1.00 3.77 11.90 12.45 3.22 : Detroit : 85 58 1,798 1,830 0.22 0.80 3.39 10.31 Flint : 84 53 1,689 1,668 0.55 1.86 3.29 10.58 Romeo : 84 58 1,570 1,603 0.00 2.09 3.38 10.61 Tipton : 85 56 1,627 1,653 0.02 0.36 6.22 15.87 Toledo, OH : 88 56 1,775 1,812 0.00 0.93 5.39 14.63 Southeast : 88 52 -2 1,639 1,696 1,539 0.34 1.15 4.40 13.08 12.13 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.