mi-crop-weather State Michigan Crop Weather Released September 8, 2008 Week Ending Date September 7, 2008 Issue MI-CW3608 Agricultural Summary Rain Brings Relief Five days were suitable for fieldwork during the week ending September 7, according to the USDA, NASS, Michigan Field Office. Precipitation varied from 0.76 inches in the western Upper Peninsula to 2.69 inches in the southwestern Lower Peninsula. Average temperatures ranged from 1 degree below normal in the western Upper Peninsula and the northeastern, west central, central and southwestern Lower Peninsula to 2 degrees above normal in the southwestern Lower Peninsula. Remnants of Hurricane Gustav brought much needed moisture to the State this week. The rains improved the outlook for some crops, but many growers reported that the rains were too late. A grower in the southwest reported, "Rains in the area, up to 4 inches, have helped the short supply. Some crops are past help, but others will benefit from this timely rain. Crop activities are proceeding in a normal manner." A grower in the southeast reported, "It is too late for rain to help any of this year's crops. It will help for loosening soil for fall tillage and for potato harvest." Field Crops Report Field Crops The benefit received from rains was limited where crops were close to maturity. Corn in some areas was beginning to mature while other areas remained in the dough and dent stage. Silage harvest was underway. Soybeans were turning and some were dropping leaves. The crop in some areas benefited from the recent moisture. Alfalfa harvest continued. Regrowth has been slow in most areas, but improved by the recent rains. A short third cutting has been reported. Harvest of dry beans was beginning. Winter wheat fields were being prepared for planting, but fieldwork was slowed due to rains. Sugarbeet growers are expecting to begin harvest next week. Fruit, Vegetable, and Specialty Crops Report Fruit The harvest of early season apples continued in the northwest and west central. Harvest of Gala and Golden Supreme apple varieties was underway in the southwest. Harvest of early and mid-season blueberry varieties was completed in the Grand Rapids area; harvest of late season varieties neared completion across the State. Fruit maturity varied in grape vineyards damaged by frost in the southwest; insect pests were a problem in the northwest. Peach harvest continued in the southwest and west central, and neared completion in the southeast. Harvest of Bartlett pears began in the southeast and continued in the southwest. Plums continued to size and color well in the southeast; harvest continued in the southwest and west central. Fall raspberry harvest was underway in the southwest and southeast; potato leafhoppers were found in newly planted red raspberries. Vegetables The week started warm and dry until rains came later in the week. In asparagus, the rain may flush a considerable amount of parasitic new growth. The first crop of table beets was hurt by earlier flooding, but the new crop appeared to be doing well. Cabbage harvest continued, but dry soils kept plants from sizing out as desired. Carrot harvest continued on schedule with growers reporting good quality. Many growers reported fields with high aster yellows. Celery harvest continued with yields being average to somewhat below average. Onion harvest was well underway. In some fields, the crop suffered from earlier flooding but additional bulb sizing is expected. Potato harvest was progressing. Fields of pumpkins were showing effects of early maturity and smaller size due to the lack of rainfall. Snap bean harvest has been affected by the extensive dry conditions with reduction in yields in nonirrigated fields. Sweet corn harvest continued with limited soil moisture in many fields hastening maturity. Processing and fresh market tomato harvest was in full swing. Some areas were completed with stakes and plastic being removed. Mites were present in some watermelon fields. Zucchini harvest neared completion with viruses less of a problem than anticipated. Soil Moisture and Crop Condition Tables Soil moisture for week ending 09/07/08 --------------------------------------------- : Very : : : Stratum : short : Short :Adequate:Surplus --------------------------------------------- : Percent : Topsoil : 22 20 53 5 Subsoil : 22 34 42 2 --------------------------------------------- Crop condition for week ending 09/07/08 ----------------------------------------------------------- : Very : : : : Crop : poor : Poor : Fair : Good :Excellent ----------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : All Hay : 7 17 32 37 7 Corn : 10 13 32 31 14 Dry beans : 7 8 23 50 12 Pasture : 22 28 28 19 3 Soybeans : 7 19 31 30 13 ----------------------------------------------------------- Crop progress for week ending 09/07/08 ---------------------------------------------------------------- : This : Last : Last : 5-year Crop : week : week : year :average ---------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : All hay, third cutting : 69 56 65 66 All hay, fourth cutting : 10 4 8 9 Apples, harvested : 15 6 12 NA Blueberries, harvested : 94 92 100 97 Corn, dough : 90 85 93 87 Corn, dent : 68 47 69 58 Corn, mature : 10 4 17 11 Corn silage, harvested : 23 12 33 25 Dry beans, turning leaves : 69 31 81 79 Dry beans, dropping leaves : 21 18 38 51 Dry beans, harvested : 6 NA 17 10 Peaches, harvested : 57 51 89 NA Potatoes, harvested : 30 21 21 NA Soybeans, turning leaves : 44 21 31 34 Soybeans, dropping leaves : 11 2 5 8 ---------------------------------------------------------------- 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 09/07/08 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 : 88 39 1,676 2,122 0.83 1.11 1.46 13.81 Marquette : 90 45 1,581 2,019 0.38 0.39 0.54 14.46 Stephenson : 91 46 1,959 2,241 0.67 0.68 1.44 15.69 Western UP : 91 38 -1 1,705 2,106 1,732 0.76 0.96 1.33 13.69 17.19 3.58 : Cornell : 88 44 1,858 2,168 0.62 0.64 1.03 13.66 Sault St Marie : 87 48 1,630 1,965 1.09 1.40 2.06 14.31 Eastern UP : 90 42 1 1,629 1,984 1,525 1.09 1.17 1.63 14.71 16.12 3.55 : Beulah : 91 53 2,126 2,341 1.32 1.32 1.75 18.71 Lake City : 88 44 1,998 2,214 1.69 1.72 3.99 22.11 Old Mission : 94 51 2,039 2,239 1.25 1.27 1.82 12.02 Pellston : 90 44 1,916 2,145 1.16 1.18 2.31 15.91 Northwest : 94 44 1 1,968 2,192 1,959 1.42 1.44 2.39 16.21 15.11 3.66 : Alpena : 87 45 1,987 2,201 2.37 2.37 2.64 16.64 Houghton Lake : 86 43 2,039 2,210 1.68 1.74 4.50 19.59 Rogers City : 87 45 1,931 2,240 1.95 1.98 3.38 19.01 Northeast : 87 43 -1 1,985 2,196 1,898 2.03 2.08 3.71 18.51 15.18 3.47 : Fremont : 91 46 2,216 2,441 2.52 2.64 2.99 15.63 Hart : 90 50 2,106 2,332 1.90 2.63 2.72 17.79 Muskegon : 89 48 2,231 2,513 3.53 3.54 3.84 16.36 West Central : 91 46 -1 2,151 2,385 2,135 2.32 2.54 2.78 18.17 15.48 3.19 : Alma : 90 50 2,319 2,552 2.71 2.72 3.99 13.39 Big Rapids : 92 46 2,210 2,287 2.03 2.25 3.19 15.25 Central : 94 46 -1 2,243 2,416 2,205 2.31 2.51 3.60 14.24 16.40 3.09 : Bad Axe : 86 53 2,250 2,392 0.57 0.57 2.23 19.28 Pigeon : 87 48 2,149 2,297 1.56 1.71 2.70 13.60 Saginaw : 89 49 2,371 2,554 1.15 1.16 2.04 15.52 Standish : 85 46 2,105 2,296 2.37 2.84 4.42 17.82 East Central : 89 46 0 2,198 2,388 2,204 1.16 1.28 2.69 15.91 14.58 2.70 : Fennville : 90 47 2,244 2,478 3.29 3.47 3.49 20.93 Grand Rapids : 92 51 2,562 2,797 4.08 4.12 4.55 20.58 Holland : 91 48 2,600 2,711 2.59 2.59 2.63 20.66 South Bend, IN : 92 49 2,637 2,897 1.79 2.46 3.06 14.67 Watervliet : 93 48 2,419 2,664 2.67 2.78 3.22 17.94 Southwest : 95 46 -1 2,445 2,657 2,396 2.69 2.84 3.20 19.37 16.74 3.26 : Belding : 91 47 2,271 2,455 0.20 0.20 1.25 11.52 Coldwater : 97 49 2,417 2,523 0.45 0.67 1.14 13.46 Lansing : 91 51 2,478 2,613 0.93 0.96 1.88 13.44 South Central : 97 47 0 2,385 2,561 2,358 1.29 1.44 2.12 14.70 16.75 2.79 : Detroit : 93 58 2,742 2,830 1.28 1.40 1.41 11.93 Flint : 90 52 2,517 2,572 1.99 2.01 2.79 14.59 Romeo : 93 54 2,382 2,517 1.56 1.68 2.28 14.28 Tipton : 91 52 2,469 2,554 0.33 0.41 0.53 16.56 Toledo, OH : 95 56 2,698 2,764 0.23 0.24 1.52 16.19 Southeast : 99 50 2 2,480 2,611 2,354 0.93 1.02 1.52 15.42 16.04 2.43 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.