mi-crop-weather State Michigan Crop Weather Released October 14, 2008 Week Ending Date October 12, 2008 Issue MI-CW4108 Agricultural Summary Mild Weather Six days were suitable for fieldwork during the week ending October 12, according to the USDA, NASS, Michigan Field Office. Precipitation varied from 0.27 inches in the southeastern Lower Peninsula to 0.95 inches in the west central Lower Peninsula. Average temperatures ranged from 2 degrees above normal in the northeastern Lower Peninsula to 5 degrees above normal in the northwestern and west central Lower Peninsula. Temperatures were cool at the start of the week bringing frost to some locations. Temperatures rose toward the end of the week and warm, sunny days allowed for great harvest weather. A reporter in the northwest Lower Peninsula stated, "Favorable weather conditions continue for fall work. Corn for silage harvest is nearly complete, and manure hauling is just starting." A farmer in the west central reported, "We have had 1 inch of rain this week, and it has been ideal for harvesting soybeans. We have only had a slight frost so far and corn is looking like harvest is soon." Field Crops Report Field Crops Favorable fieldwork conditions were present, especially at the end of the week. Corn was drying down slowly, and growers continued corn harvest where crop and field conditions allowed. Silage harvest was nearly all complete. Soybean harvest continued on schedule. Most leaves have dropped. Alfalfa harvest continued in some areas. The hay season has come to an end for some farmers to prevent winter damage. Growers were cutting for a third or fourth time. Many dry beans were harvested this week due to the nice conditions. Planting of winter wheat continued into good field conditions, and the crop was beginning to emerge. Sugarbeet harvest continued. Fruit, Vegetable, and Specialty Crops Report Fruit Apple harvest passed its peak volume; Red Delicious was the principal variety being picked. Concord grapes were being harvested in the southwest; wine grapes were being harvested in the southwest and northwest. Vegetables Many fields were harvested as warm, sunny days made for perfect harvest conditions. However, very cool nights have slowed progress of the vegetable crops. Fresh market celery harvest was coming to a culmination, while celery for processing will continue for at least another week. Potato harvest was in full swing across the State. Carrot, snap bean, and pumpkin harvest continued where weather conditions allowed. Soil Moisture and Crop Condition Tables Soil moisture for week ending 10/12/08 --------------------------------------------- : Very : : : Stratum : short : Short :Adequate:Surplus --------------------------------------------- : Percent : Topsoil : 4 13 74 9 Subsoil : 3 13 78 6 --------------------------------------------- Crop condition for week ending 10/12/08 ----------------------------------------------------------- : Very : : : : Crop : poor : Poor : Fair : Good :Excellent ----------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : All Hay : 5 12 30 42 11 Corn : 5 11 34 38 12 Dry beans : 3 3 20 56 18 Pasture : 12 19 32 32 5 Soybeans : 10 15 33 34 8 ----------------------------------------------------------- Crop progress for week ending 10/12/08 ---------------------------------------------------------------- : This : Last : Last : 5-year Crop : week : week : year :average ---------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : All hay, third cutting : 92 88 97 96 All hay, fourth cutting : 44 38 51 52 Apples, harvested : 59 50 86 NA Corn, mature : 87 80 96 89 Corn, harvested : 15 8 25 18 Corn silage, harvested : 96 89 99 96 Dry beans, harvested : 77 49 93 92 Potatoes, harvested : 68 58 65 NA Soybeans, dropping leaves : 97 93 98 96 Soybeans, harvested : 42 20 42 46 Sugarbeets, harvested : 15 11 21 12 Winter wheat, planted : 54 39 70 64 Winter wheat, emerged : 15 5 31 23 ---------------------------------------------------------------- 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 10/12/08 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 : 73 36 1,970 2,450 0.48 1.00 1.38 17.35 Marquette : 71 38 1,840 2,337 0.71 1.74 1.89 18.64 Stephenson : 77 33 2,278 2,627 0.56 0.74 0.86 17.99 Western UP : 77 28 4 1,977 2,431 1,972 0.48 0.90 1.12 16.43 20.93 2.57 : Cornell : 69 37 2,142 2,508 0.37 1.17 1.26 15.83 Sault St Marie : 69 36 1,872 2,287 0.32 1.30 1.39 17.06 Eastern UP : 70 36 4 1,862 2,304 1,740 0.37 1.35 1.59 17.99 19.96 2.57 : Beulah : 78 38 2,488 2,800 0.39 1.40 1.45 21.32 Lake City : 77 34 2,328 2,592 0.46 1.44 1.52 25.14 Old Mission : 80 39 2,375 2,690 0.28 0.71 0.71 13.96 Pellston : 79 29 2,202 2,578 0.47 0.97 0.97 17.56 Northwest : 80 29 5 2,284 2,616 2,260 0.29 0.98 1.00 18.23 19.21 2.75 : Alpena : 79 28 2,298 2,626 0.32 0.64 0.93 19.07 Houghton Lake : 78 31 2,372 2,623 0.21 0.45 0.46 21.51 Rogers City : 79 33 2,221 2,649 0.27 0.63 0.84 20.09 Northeast : 79 28 2 2,292 2,610 2,183 0.32 0.61 0.81 20.55 18.95 2.40 : Fremont : 80 35 2,581 2,898 1.19 1.45 1.46 19.13 Hart : 80 36 2,471 2,779 0.52 0.98 0.99 19.97 Muskegon : 80 40 2,638 3,015 1.15 1.63 1.63 20.96 West Central : 80 26 5 2,528 2,852 2,473 0.95 1.62 1.63 21.75 19.26 2.94 : Alma : 81 34 2,707 3,020 0.54 0.76 0.78 19.06 Big Rapids : 73 29 2,569 2,708 0.58 0.95 0.95 19.56 Central : 82 29 3 2,613 2,864 2,554 0.66 0.92 0.93 18.53 19.98 2.59 : Bad Axe : 81 35 2,594 2,879 0.45 0.54 0.54 22.79 Pigeon : 81 31 2,497 2,777 0.50 0.80 0.98 17.09 Saginaw : 81 37 2,776 3,053 0.61 0.92 0.93 19.84 Standish : 77 31 2,443 2,749 0.86 0.93 0.98 21.02 East Central : 82 31 3 2,552 2,865 2,569 0.57 1.04 1.14 20.34 17.78 2.41 : Fennville : 85 38 2,651 2,967 0.95 2.35 2.45 29.72 Grand Rapids : 82 40 2,986 3,342 0.85 1.47 1.47 27.18 Holland : 84 40 3,029 3,235 1.44 2.37 2.37 28.35 South Bend, IN : 84 39 3,108 3,475 0.38 0.84 0.84 27.43 Watervliet : 84 39 2,846 3,187 0.58 1.61 1.77 25.83 Southwest : 86 28 4 2,876 3,177 2,804 0.66 1.59 1.69 27.38 20.71 2.99 : Belding : 81 35 2,649 2,920 1.01 1.19 1.23 18.31 Coldwater : 85 34 2,868 3,009 0.29 0.51 0.51 21.54 Lansing : 80 40 2,872 3,116 0.57 1.68 1.68 21.58 South Central : 85 33 4 2,783 3,043 2,753 0.51 1.12 1.22 22.54 20.09 2.41 : Detroit : 79 41 3,194 3,393 0.27 0.53 0.53 17.04 Flint : 80 36 2,904 3,088 0.28 1.39 1.39 21.61 Romeo : 81 35 2,775 3,045 0.37 0.59 0.60 19.99 Tipton : 82 39 2,886 3,077 0.13 0.31 0.32 22.68 Toledo, OH : 85 38 3,176 3,327 0.19 0.34 0.77 20.35 Southeast : 85 32 3 2,894 3,139 2,751 0.27 0.73 0.82 21.23 18.99 2.33 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.