mi-crop-weather State Michigan Crop Weather Released August 25, 2008 Week Ending Date August 24, 2008 Issue MI-CW3408 Agricultural Summary More Rain Needed Six days were suitable for fieldwork during the week ending August 24, according to the USDA, NASS, Michigan Field Office. Precipitation varied from 0.21 inches in the western Upper Peninsula to 1.29 inches in the northeastern Lower Peninsula. Average temperatures ranged from 1 degree above normal in the northeastern and east central Lower Peninsula to 5 degrees above normal in the southwestern Lower Peninsula. Temperatures were generally above normal and dry soils remained throughout most of the State. Rain did fall in some areas, but more was needed to improve crop condition. A farmer in the northwest Lower Peninsula reported, "We received one half inch of rain yesterday. It was needed very much, but we do need more. The cool nights will help to keep the soil damp longer." Rains were scattered and bypassed some growers. A farmer in the West Central region reported, "Another week has passed with only one tenth of an inch of rain. Crop conditions have gone downhill this week and any rain we receive now may be of questionable benefit. Very little additional third cutting of hay has been made in the hopes we will get some rain." Field Crops Report Field Crops Growers were in need of moisture to assist in the development of crops. Corn continued in the dough stage. In some areas, the crop was doing well, but on lighter soils, it was under stress. Soybean leaves were beginning to turn, and the crop was in need of rain. Growers monitored fields for pests such as soybean aphids and spider mites. Alfalfa and other hay harvest continued at a slow pace. A short third cutting has been reported. There were reports that potato leafhopper numbers were high. Dry beans had mostly set pods and leaves were beginning to turn. Growers were preparing their winter wheat fields for planting in the fall. Sugarbeet stands were looking great. Oat harvest was all but complete. Fruit, Vegetable, and Specialty Crops Report Fruit A sudden increase of leaf drop in some apple varieties in the Grand Rapids area was attributed to the recent dry period and considered a normal horticultural process. In the northwest, apples were coloring, but the lack of rain increased concerns regarding fruit size. Harvest of apricots continued in the west central. Blueberry harvest neared completion in the southeast, while harvest of late season varieties continued in the southwest; small, soft fruit was a problem. Concord grapes were changing color. In the west central, peach harvest was underway; bacterial leaf spot and x-disease symptoms were evident. Due to dry weather, firm and relatively sweet peaches were found in the southeast, as harvest of Red Haven and Starfire varieties was completed; bacterial spot symptoms were widespread. Pears continued to size well with low incidence of disease. Harvest of plums continued in the west central and southwest; bacterial canker symptoms were prevalent. In the southeast, European plums colored fairly well; a fair amount of brown rot infection was found. Strawberry re-growth was poor due to drought stress. Tart cherry harvest was completed in the northwest; quality was a challenge. Vegetables Continued warm temperatures and abnormally dry conditions across the State kept vegetable producers concerned with reductions in yield and crop quality, especially with late season cucurbits including pumpkins, winter squash, and gourds. Processing tomato harvest continued this week; some growers reported smaller fruits and lower than normal yields, even in irrigated fields. Sweet corn harvest was winding down this week, except on farms with adequate irrigation. Potato harvest was in full swing. Alternaria early blight symptoms have been found in Monroe County. Harvest of carrots, peppers, onions, celery, watermelons, and muskmelons continued, while cabbage and other cole crops continued to develop. Soil Moisture and Crop Condition Tables Soil moisture for week ending 08/24/08 --------------------------------------------- : Very : : : Stratum : short : Short :Adequate:Surplus --------------------------------------------- : Percent : Topsoil : 39 27 33 1 Subsoil : 31 30 38 1 --------------------------------------------- Crop condition for week ending 08/24/08 ----------------------------------------------------------- : Very : : : : Crop : poor : Poor : Fair : Good :Excellent ----------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : All Hay : 8 17 29 38 8 Corn : 11 11 28 34 16 Dry beans : 4 3 23 56 14 Pasture : 20 28 27 17 8 Soybeans : 8 18 25 35 14 ----------------------------------------------------------- Crop progress for week ending 08/24/08 ---------------------------------------------------------------- : This : Last : Last : 5-year Crop : week : week : year :average ---------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : All hay, second cutting : 92 88 99 92 All hay, third cutting : 41 39 48 44 Apples, harvested : 5 NA NA NA Blueberries, harvested : 80 75 92 85 Corn, dough : 75 66 79 66 Corn, dent : 18 10 31 22 Dry beans, setting pods : 96 75 99 97 Dry beans, turning leaves : 25 3 17 28 Oats, harvested : 94 74 99 91 Peaches, harvested : 42 38 57 64 Potatoes, harvested : 19 17 5 NA Soybeans, setting pods : 98 92 99 94 Soybeans, turning leaves : 3 0 2 4 ---------------------------------------------------------------- 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 08/24/08 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 : 84 46 1,480 1,876 0.19 0.35 1.12 12.70 Marquette : 83 45 1,392 1,787 0.15 0.15 0.88 14.07 Stephenson : 86 42 1,758 1,980 0.30 0.76 1.98 15.01 Western UP : 86 36 2 1,516 1,865 1,538 0.21 0.37 1.16 12.73 15.39 3.69 : Cornell : 80 45 1,608 1,923 0.46 0.46 1.20 13.09 Sault St Marie : 80 47 1,440 1,735 0.63 0.66 0.98 12.91 Eastern UP : 82 34 2 1,431 1,755 1,342 0.47 0.49 1.19 13.57 14.52 3.53 : Beulah : 85 54 1,887 2,061 0.34 0.43 1.79 17.39 Lake City : 84 40 1,802 1,972 2.19 2.27 3.36 20.39 Old Mission : 87 51 1,817 1,967 0.55 0.55 0.61 10.75 Pellston : 84 39 1,720 1,900 1.13 1.13 1.93 14.73 Northwest : 87 39 4 1,756 1,935 1,735 0.95 1.01 1.67 14.83 13.58 3.11 : Alpena : 87 38 1,789 1,948 0.27 0.27 1.23 14.27 Houghton Lake : 84 36 1,839 1,966 2.57 2.76 3.17 17.85 Rogers City : 85 41 1,736 1,990 1.14 1.40 2.17 17.03 Northeast : 87 36 1 1,790 1,950 1,683 1.29 1.63 2.41 16.43 13.68 3.12 : Fremont : 86 50 1,994 2,169 0.35 0.35 1.07 12.99 Hart : 85 51 1,882 2,064 0.09 0.09 1.13 15.16 Muskegon : 87 53 1,990 2,218 0.23 0.30 1.13 12.82 West Central : 87 46 3 1,925 2,113 1,894 0.22 0.24 1.04 15.64 14.01 3.60 : Alma : 89 47 2,096 2,269 1.27 1.27 2.66 11.06 Big Rapids : 86 45 2,008 2,040 0.82 0.94 1.95 13.00 Central : 89 45 2 2,031 2,148 1,966 0.93 1.08 2.46 11.82 14.93 3.64 : Bad Axe : 89 47 2,024 2,119 1.66 1.66 5.00 18.71 Pigeon : 89 42 1,941 2,031 0.99 0.99 2.34 11.89 Saginaw : 89 45 2,140 2,269 0.78 0.88 2.80 14.36 Standish : 88 41 1,904 2,034 1.08 1.58 2.93 14.98 East Central : 90 41 1 1,980 2,117 1,957 1.22 1.41 3.34 14.64 13.48 2.93 : Fennville : 85 55 2,011 2,197 0.02 0.02 0.88 17.46 Grand Rapids : 90 53 2,299 2,480 0.43 0.43 1.02 16.46 Holland : 87 55 2,298 2,402 0.04 0.04 0.81 18.07 South Bend, IN : 89 61 2,356 2,581 0.60 0.60 1.29 12.21 Watervliet : 88 55 2,165 2,373 0.41 0.44 1.24 15.16 Southwest : 90 47 5 2,185 2,362 2,125 0.34 0.37 1.06 16.54 15.53 3.18 : Belding : 88 47 2,046 2,176 0.80 1.05 1.71 11.32 Coldwater : 90 49 2,165 2,252 0.47 0.47 0.77 12.79 Lansing : 89 48 2,222 2,317 0.36 0.92 1.10 12.48 South Central : 91 46 3 2,145 2,281 2,099 0.61 0.73 1.36 13.32 15.57 3.36 : Detroit : 93 54 2,449 2,512 0.01 0.01 0.22 10.53 Flint : 91 43 2,265 2,282 0.78 0.78 2.00 12.58 Romeo : 92 47 2,145 2,214 0.49 0.69 2.08 12.69 Tipton : 92 53 2,202 2,271 0.12 0.12 0.28 16.15 Toledo, OH : 91 52 2,405 2,467 0.30 1.37 1.41 16.04 Southeast : 94 43 3 2,219 2,323 2,089 0.36 0.53 1.36 14.42 15.06 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.