mi-crop-weather State Michigan Crop Weather Released August 18, 2008 Week Ending Date August 17, 2008 Issue MI-CW3308 Agricultural Summary Cool and Dry Six days were suitable for fieldwork during the week ending August 17, according to the USDA, NASS, Michigan Field Office. Precipitation varied from 0.02 inches in the eastern Upper Peninsula and the west central Lower Peninsula to 0.34 inches in the northeastern Lower Peninsula. Average temperatures ranged from 3 degrees below normal in the southwestern Lower Peninsula to 2 degrees above normal in the eastern Upper Peninsula. Temperatures were on the cool side this past week and dry conditions remained as rainfall was very light. Crops were in need of a good soaking rain. A farmer in the west central reported, "Corn and soybeans on lighter ground are showing signs of the dry weather effects. We have only had a trace of rain in the last week." Some areas received light rain but not a meaningful quantity. "Nuisance showers almost everyday have made it hard to make hay and combine, but the soils are still getting very dry," a farmer in the northwest reported. Field Crops Report Field Crops Farmers in many areas were anxious for rain to boost crop growth and relieve the dry soils across the State. Corn was mainly in the dough stage, and the condition varied depending on the level of moisture. On the lighter soils, the crop appeared to be stressed from the dry conditions. Soybeans have bloomed and most have set pods. There were reports of moisture stress on the lighter soils. The crop needs continued monitoring for pests. Alfalfa regrowth has been slow and short due to the dry circumstances. Second and third cutting continued, but light showers made hay harvest difficult in some areas. Dry beans have bloomed for the most part and were setting pods. Sugarbeets continued in good condition. Harvest of oats continued. Fruit, Vegetable, and Specialty Crops Report Fruit Apples ranged from 2.5 to 3 inches in the southwest. Growers continued to pick Jerseymac and early summer apple varieties across the State. Blueberry harvest continued; demand for pick your own and ready picked blueberries remained excellent. Peaches continued to size well where there was adequate moisture; harvest of Red Haven peaches began at most farms in the southwest and west central. Pears grew to 2.5 inches in diameter; sooty blotch and flyspeck pests were a concern. Plums continued to size and color nicely, as most were 1.5 inches in diameter; harvest began in the west central and continued in the southeast. Raspberry harvest of fall bearing varieties continued on a few farms in the southwest. Insect pests were reported in new strawberry plantings in the southwest and southeast. Tart cherry harvest neared completion in the northwest and was completed in the west central. Tart and sweet cherry leaf drop due to cherry leaf and bacterial spot infections subsided in the southwest and southeast. In the northwest, powdery mildew was found in grape clusters and on foliage. Vegetables Vegetable quality fared well due to the cooler temperatures, but farmers across the State were concerned about the lack of moisture in the soil. Cabbage harvest continued with reports of an overall good crop, despite some injury on low-lying fields. Some transplanted fields in the southeast were affected by black rot. Cauliflower looked good, but growth was slower than normal due to dry conditions. On muck soils, celery harvest continued at full speed. Watermelon and muskmelon harvest was well underway. Winter squash and gourds were beginning to color. Peppers looked good with uniform and good sized fruit. Pumpkins had fruits showing in most fields. Prospects seemed good for an excellent onion harvest this year; however fields subject to early summer flooding were not likely to fare well. Cucumbers for pickles producers were applying preventive sprays for diseases. Processing tomato harvest began and market tomatoes were in sufficient supply with good quality. Potatoes continued to be harvested for fresh market and processing. Sweet corn harvest continued, with generally good yields, despite some reductions on low-lying soils. Soil Moisture and Crop Condition Tables Soil moisture for week ending 08/17/08 --------------------------------------------- : Very : : : Stratum : short : Short :Adequate:Surplus --------------------------------------------- : Percent : Topsoil : 29 33 36 2 Subsoil : 21 33 45 1 --------------------------------------------- Crop condition for week ending 08/17/08 ----------------------------------------------------------- : Very : : : : Crop : poor : Poor : Fair : Good :Excellent ----------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : All Hay : 4 11 32 42 11 Barley : 1 12 21 61 5 Corn : 5 10 29 37 19 Dry beans : 6 6 23 51 14 Oats : 0 5 17 55 23 Pasture : 8 28 30 29 5 Soybeans : 4 11 27 42 16 ----------------------------------------------------------- Crop progress for week ending 08/17/08 ---------------------------------------------------------------- : This : Last : Last : 5-year Crop : week : week : year :average ---------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : All hay, second cutting : 88 82 94 87 All hay, third cutting : 39 28 31 33 Blueberries, harvested : 75 58 85 77 Corn, dough : 66 40 67 48 Corn, dent : 10 0 15 10 Dry beans, blooming : 97 81 98 97 Dry beans, setting pods : 75 57 91 81 Dry beans, turning leaves : 3 NA 6 9 Oats, harvested : 74 48 87 74 Peaches, harvested : 38 35 50 36 Potatoes, harvested : 17 14 5 NA Soybeans, setting pods : 92 77 91 82 Tart cherries, harvested : 99 97 99 99 ---------------------------------------------------------------- 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 08/17/08 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 37 1,356 1,773 0.16 0.31 1.26 12.51 Marquette : 86 44 1,273 1,691 0.00 0.12 0.99 13.92 Stephenson : 84 43 1,642 1,870 0.46 0.53 1.70 14.71 Western UP : 88 34 -1 1,398 1,763 1,437 0.17 0.28 1.32 12.53 14.60 3.69 : Cornell : 87 46 1,496 1,820 0.00 0.11 1.12 12.63 Sault St Marie : 84 52 1,325 1,633 0.03 0.16 1.39 12.28 Eastern UP : 89 42 2 1,318 1,652 1,247 0.02 0.13 1.22 13.10 13.77 3.53 : Beulah : 80 49 1,747 1,952 0.09 0.19 1.88 17.05 Lake City : 85 46 1,681 1,859 0.08 0.55 1.37 18.20 Old Mission : 90 49 1,677 1,842 0.00 0.06 0.29 10.20 Pellston : 82 45 1,592 1,779 0.00 0.54 1.87 13.60 Northwest : 90 44 0 1,625 1,818 1,624 0.06 0.34 1.10 13.88 12.97 3.11 : Alpena : 84 47 1,663 1,832 0.00 0.93 1.01 14.00 Houghton Lake : 84 45 1,711 1,859 0.19 0.57 1.06 15.28 Rogers City : 85 48 1,610 1,879 0.26 0.94 1.40 15.89 Northeast : 85 45 -1 1,666 1,841 1,575 0.34 1.03 1.50 15.14 13.02 3.12 : Fremont : 81 47 1,850 2,057 0.00 0.70 0.72 12.64 Hart : 83 45 1,766 1,950 0.00 1.04 1.04 15.07 Muskegon : 79 50 1,830 2,097 0.07 0.85 0.91 12.59 West Central : 83 44 -2 1,786 1,997 1,775 0.02 0.75 0.84 15.42 13.13 3.60 : Alma : 87 51 1,963 2,161 0.00 0.54 1.52 9.79 Big Rapids : 82 48 1,869 1,934 0.12 0.48 1.50 12.18 Central : 87 48 -1 1,895 2,041 1,847 0.15 0.72 1.89 10.89 14.06 3.64 : Bad Axe : 84 53 1,880 1,995 0.00 1.28 4.22 17.05 Pigeon : 84 48 1,812 1,911 0.00 1.11 1.75 10.90 Saginaw : 85 52 1,997 2,151 0.10 1.24 2.67 13.58 Standish : 85 50 1,768 1,915 0.50 1.35 3.35 13.90 East Central : 85 48 -2 1,844 1,997 1,835 0.19 1.34 2.91 13.41 12.80 2.93 : Fennville : 80 49 1,855 2,065 0.00 0.86 0.97 17.44 Grand Rapids : 85 54 2,136 2,349 0.00 0.59 0.60 16.03 Holland : 83 51 2,123 2,280 0.00 0.77 0.77 18.03 South Bend, IN : 84 51 2,185 2,438 0.00 0.69 0.75 11.61 Watervliet : 82 51 2,008 2,244 0.03 0.76 1.05 14.75 Southwest : 85 45 -3 2,029 2,231 1,993 0.03 0.66 0.90 16.20 14.79 3.18 : Belding : 84 48 1,902 2,065 0.25 0.72 0.91 10.52 Coldwater : 85 48 2,017 2,125 0.00 0.30 0.30 12.32 Lansing : 84 50 2,065 2,195 0.56 0.70 0.79 12.12 South Central : 85 48 -2 1,997 2,162 1,970 0.13 0.58 0.96 12.71 14.69 3.36 : Detroit : 87 57 2,276 2,377 0.00 0.14 0.43 10.52 Flint : 86 48 2,107 2,154 0.00 0.88 1.77 11.80 Romeo : 85 53 2,002 2,089 0.20 0.73 1.59 12.20 Tipton : 85 50 2,052 2,152 0.00 0.16 0.18 16.03 Toledo, OH : 86 53 2,247 2,330 1.07 1.08 1.11 15.74 Southeast : 87 47 -1 2,067 2,197 1,957 0.17 0.62 1.35 14.07 14.17 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.