mi-crop-weather State Michigan Crop Weather Released August 4, 2008 Week Ending Date August 3, 2008 Issue MI-CW3108 Agricultural Summary Hot, Dry Conditions Six days were suitable for fieldwork during the week ending August 3, according to the USDA, NASS, Michigan Field Office. Precipitation varied from 0.07 inches in the west central and southwestern Lower Peninsula to 0.81 inches in the central Lower Peninsula. Average temperatures ranged from 1 degree above normal in the western Upper Peninsula and the northeastern and east central Lower Peninsula to 3 degrees above normal in the central and southeastern Lower Peninsula. Following a spring with elevated moisture levels, much of the State experienced a dry week. Crops in many areas of the State were reported to be in need of rain. A farmer in the west central reported, "As we enter our fourth week without meaningful rainfall, corn and some other crops are showing signs of heat and moisture stress especially on the lighter soils." Although some of the soils were dry, excess moisture did exist in some locations. "Thunderstorms continue to rumble through our area creating pockets of saturated soil next to areas with adequate moisture," a reporter in the Thumb region stated. Field Crops Report Field Crops Corn was looking good in most locations, but there were some reports that rain was needed. For the crop to continue in good condition, many fields will need to receive moisture. Soybeans continued to bloom, and a number of fields were setting pods. Some locations were reported to be in need of rain. Harvest of winter wheat was all but completed. Dry conditions were good for harvest of alfalfa but poor for regrowth. Humidity made harvest difficult in some areas. Moisture levels and rains have damaged some dry bean fields, but the crop continues to progress. The sugarbeet crop continued to do well. Cercospora infestation was very light. Oat harvest was underway. The majority of the barley crop was in fair to good condition. Fruit, Vegetable, and Specialty Crops Report Fruit Apples grew to 3 inches in the southwest; fire blight infections were moving and oozing from cankers was reported. In the southeast, harvest of early summer apple varieties began; deer browsing damage was more prevalent than in previous years. Apricot harvest was winding down in the southwest; quality was generally good with little brown rot. Blackberry harvest continued. Cranberries were at small green fruit. Blueberry harvest continued in the southwest, where quality and volume were reportedly excellent. In the southeast, berry size was an issue on farms with dry soils. Peaches were 2.5 inches in diameter; harvest of early variety peaches continued across the State. Pears were 2 inches in the southwest. In the southeast, pears were 1.75 inches; finish problems were found, resulting from freezing temperatures during the spring. Plums were 1.25 inches in the southeast; harvest of Early Magic and Shiro varieties began in the southwest. Strawberries rebounded well from renovation where soil moisture was adequate in the southeast; newly planted strawberries continued to runner well. In the southeast, insect pest activity was found in many sweet cherry blocks. Tart cherry harvest was completed in the southeast, neared completion in the west central, and continued in the northwest. Raspberry harvest neared completion in the southeast and continued in the northwest and southwest. Some early grape varieties began to change color in the southwest; phomopsis lesions in the fruit clusters were found. Vegetables Dry conditions persisted for much of the State while a few areas received rain from thunderstorms. In asparagus, heavy dews and warm weather kept disease pressure high despite the lack of rain in the west central. Cabbage harvest continued and appeared to be progressing well. The carrot crop had increased leaf blight pressure and leafhopper activity. Irrigation was being used where it was available. Celery harvest for fresh and processing markets continued. Reports ranged from good to fair depending on the area. Viruses were appearing in zucchini and yellow squash although they did not seem severe or widespread. The muskmelon crop appeared to be plentiful this year. Pumpkins and hard squash were setting fruit and fields looked excellent. Onions were sizing out considerably. Bacterial and fungal diseases were reported in a number of fields. Vine crops were doing well, but some powdery mildew, downy mildew, and phytopthora was present. Tomatoes and peppers were progressing well. Eggplant harvest began. Potatoes started to mature. Snap bean fields were growing well with some fields being irrigated. Sweet corn harvest was in full swing with an excellent crop. Thrips were present in damaging numbers in leek fields. Newly planted radish fields were growing well. Fruit set began in fields of butternut squash for processing. Soil Moisture and Crop Condition Tables Soil moisture for week ending 08/03/08 --------------------------------------------- : Very : : : Stratum : short : Short :Adequate:Surplus --------------------------------------------- : Percent : Topsoil : 15 37 44 4 Subsoil : 9 36 52 3 --------------------------------------------- Crop condition for week ending 08/03/08 ----------------------------------------------------------- : Very : : : : Crop : poor : Poor : Fair : Good :Excellent ----------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : All Hay : 3 6 24 50 17 Barley : 1 3 44 50 2 Corn : 3 6 25 47 19 Dry beans : 7 8 24 47 14 Oats : 1 4 23 54 18 Pasture : 3 14 41 36 6 Soybeans : 3 7 29 45 16 ----------------------------------------------------------- Crop progress for week ending 08/03/08 ------------------------------------------------------------- : This : Last : Last :5-year Crop : week : week : year :average ------------------------------------------------------------- : Inches : Corn, height : 76 70 70 71 : : Percent : All hay, second cutting : 74 63 83 75 All hay, third cutting : 19 6 19 13 Blueberries, harvested : 47 36 54 48 Corn, silked : 86 68 85 79 Corn, dough : 14 2 10 8 Dry beans, blooming : 63 46 65 65 Dry beans, setting pods : 11 5 26 30 Oats, turning yellow : 85 78 89 92 Oats, harvested : 21 6 38 34 Peaches, harvested : 32 15 27 20 Potatoes, harvested : 9 1 2 NA Soybeans, blooming : 84 79 85 80 Soybeans, setting pods : 50 36 59 47 Tart cherries, harvested : 91 60 78 86 Winter wheat, harvested : 97 85 100 95 ------------------------------------------------------------- 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 08/03/08 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 46 1,156 1,527 0.62 0.95 2.90 11.78 Marquette : 83 50 1,080 1,456 0.61 0.87 3.00 13.80 Stephenson : 85 50 1,405 1,583 1.15 1.17 4.32 14.18 Western UP : 85 44 1 1,184 1,507 1,227 0.69 1.04 2.89 12.18 13.13 3.69 : Cornell : 85 52 1,255 1,549 0.64 1.02 2.99 12.53 Sault St Marie : 79 52 1,087 1,387 0.19 1.23 3.09 12.12 Eastern UP : 85 48 2 1,099 1,408 1,046 0.51 1.01 2.71 12.76 12.29 3.53 : Beulah : 83 55 1,503 1,654 1.26 1.69 2.50 16.86 Lake City : 86 51 1,448 1,585 0.62 0.82 1.62 17.65 Old Mission : 84 53 1,427 1,566 0.00 0.23 1.07 10.14 Pellston : 84 48 1,371 1,521 0.26 1.33 2.79 13.06 Northwest : 86 48 2 1,392 1,546 1,392 0.39 0.77 1.76 13.56 11.58 3.11 : Alpena : 84 50 1,431 1,562 0.03 0.08 4.30 13.06 Houghton Lake : 82 48 1,485 1,587 0.03 0.49 1.82 14.76 Rogers City : 82 52 1,409 1,609 0.09 0.46 2.83 14.19 Northeast : 84 48 1 1,446 1,572 1,345 0.09 0.47 3.06 13.99 11.69 3.12 : Fremont : 87 55 1,604 1,758 0.02 0.02 1.08 11.94 Hart : 86 54 1,536 1,669 0.00 0.00 2.09 14.03 Muskegon : 85 53 1,579 1,783 0.05 0.06 1.92 11.74 West Central : 87 51 2 1,550 1,706 1,526 0.07 0.09 2.60 14.67 11.60 3.60 : Alma : 88 54 1,707 1,849 0.85 0.98 1.64 9.25 Big Rapids : 87 53 1,637 1,652 0.65 1.02 1.89 11.70 Central : 88 53 3 1,651 1,746 1,595 0.81 1.18 2.10 10.17 12.59 3.64 : Bad Axe : 86 58 1,647 1,693 2.06 2.94 5.66 15.35 Pigeon : 86 54 1,584 1,635 0.24 0.64 2.38 9.79 Saginaw : 84 57 1,746 1,849 0.78 1.43 2.71 12.34 Standish : 85 55 1,544 1,638 0.50 2.00 3.78 12.55 East Central : 87 54 1 1,605 1,706 1,580 0.78 1.57 3.33 12.03 11.52 2.93 : Fennville : 87 56 1,612 1,760 0.00 0.11 2.09 16.58 Grand Rapids : 87 60 1,851 1,995 0.00 0.01 1.22 15.44 Holland : 86 58 1,835 1,951 0.00 0.00 2.85 17.26 South Bend, IN : 90 58 1,923 2,091 0.00 0.06 2.14 10.92 Watervliet : 87 57 1,754 1,914 0.07 0.29 2.69 13.99 Southwest : 90 51 2 1,773 1,906 1,719 0.07 0.26 2.62 15.54 13.47 3.18 : Belding : 88 53 1,643 1,763 0.19 0.19 0.80 9.80 Coldwater : 90 53 1,772 1,802 0.00 0.00 1.29 11.22 Lansing : 87 57 1,801 1,867 0.04 0.09 1.38 11.42 South Central : 90 53 2 1,745 1,844 1,703 0.17 0.38 2.02 12.08 13.28 3.36 : Detroit : 89 60 1,973 2,019 0.07 0.29 1.73 10.38 Flint : 88 54 1,848 1,835 0.34 0.89 2.33 10.92 Romeo : 88 58 1,733 1,781 0.86 0.86 3.42 11.47 Tipton : 89 59 1,792 1,825 0.00 0.02 2.26 15.87 Toledo, OH : 90 59 1,952 1,990 0.00 0.00 1.67 14.63 Southeast : 93 51 3 1,802 1,871 1,682 0.39 0.73 2.52 13.46 12.80 3.12 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.