mi-crop-weather State Michigan Crop Weather Released May 18, 2009 Week Ending Date May 17, 2009 Issue MI-CW2009 Agricultural Summary Cool and Wet Four days were suitable for fieldwork during the week ending May 17, according to the USDA, NASS, Michigan Field Office. Precipitation varied from 0.63 inches in the western Upper Peninsula to 1.53 inches in the west central Lower Peninsula. Average temperatures ranged from 4 degrees below normal in the west central, central, southwest, and south central Lower Peninsula to 2 degrees below normal in the southeast Lower Peninsula. Cool temperatures coupled with scattered showers slowed planting and emergence progress. A reporter in the south central reported, "Cool, wet conditions have persisted this spring, delaying planting of crops and causing some to be re-planted." Fieldwork continued slowly as farmers worked around wet spots in an effort to catch-up on spring planting. Field Crops Report Field Crops Aside from rainy weather later in the week, farmers were able to continue planting. Alfalfa was growing well and the crop was at least 15 inches tall. Reports of weevil larvae feeding continued. Planting of corn and soybeans progressed rapidly in fields that had dried out. Wheat was progressing, but showed signs of powdery mildew. Additionally, Septoria is expected in the coming weeks. The majority of the crop was in Feekes growing stages 7, with some in Feekes 6 and 8. Reporters said that the fields that drowned out due to the abundance of moisture that was received previously maybe replanted to corn or soybeans. Rye, oats and barley were progressing well. Rye was in Feekes growing stages 8 and 9. Some fields of sugarbeets have been replanted due to disease. Potato planting was underway. Fruit, Vegetable, and Specialty Crops Report Fruit Fruit development was about normal in most regions. Tree planting and fungicide application continued. Insect activity increased. Apples were in full bloom in the Grand Rapids area and in petal fall in the southeast and southwest. Peaches were in full bloom in the west central and in shuck in the southwest, where the crop potential looked very good. Stanley plums were in full bloom in the west central. Strawberries were in early bloom in the southeast and southwest; many growers made ice for frost control. Raspberry shoot elongation continued. Sweet cherries ranged early to full bloom in the northwest. Tart cherries were in early bloom in the northwest; they were in shuck in the southwest. Pears were 4 to 6 mm in diameter in the southwest and in white bud to first bloom in the northwest. Blueberries ranged from early pink to early bloom. Wet field conditions continued to stifle fungicide spraying. Grape shoots were 3 inches long in the southwest; Chardonnay vines were at bud swell in the northwest. Vegetables Drier weather this week allowed vegetable growers to get caught up on field activities. Asparagus harvest progressed slowly this week, with some sites reporting minor damage from frost earlier in the week. Carrot planting continued, extended somewhat by the rains. Early planted carrot stands appeared in good condition, with early seedings in the rabbit ear stage. Early seeded onion fields were getting established with good stands as planting was winding down. In the Grand Rapids area, scattered areas of onions were hurt by excessive moisture from the week before, and there was some reported loss of sweet corn in early-planted fields due to cold, wet soils. On upland soils, sweet corn planting continued, and some early sweet corn had emerged. On muck soils, progress continued with celery, red beets, radishes, and leeks. Cabbage transplanting continued; growers reported that the crop appeared to be doing well, although growth was slower than desired. Planting of lettuce, squash and cucumbers continued as both transplants and direct seeded. Peas were about six to eight inches tall and close to flowering. Tomatoes grown under tunnels were close to staking and tying. Soil Moisture and Crop Condition Tables Soil moisture for week ending 05/17/09 --------------------------------------------- : Very : : : Stratum : short : Short :Adequate:Surplus --------------------------------------------- : Percent : Topsoil : 0 2 51 47 Subsoil : 0 2 60 38 --------------------------------------------- Crop condition for week ending 05/17/09 ----------------------------------------------------------- : Very : : : : Crop : poor : Poor : Fair : Good :Excellent ----------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : Oats : 0 2 32 57 9 Pasture : 1 2 25 48 24 Winter Wheat : 2 5 25 49 19 ----------------------------------------------------------- Crop progress for week ending 05/17/09 ---------------------------------------------------------------- : This : Last : Last : 5-year Crop : week : week : year :average ---------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : Asparagus, harvested : 13 0 34 33 Barley, planted : 80 54 54 78 Barley, emerged : 46 27 19 51 Corn, planted : 41 18 82 77 Corn, emerged : 6 0 31 32 Oats, planted : 86 77 94 94 Oats, emerged : 60 40 70 77 Potatoes, planted : 56 28 50 58 Potatoes, emerged : 8 0 27 19 Soybeans, planted : 15 5 48 46 Soybeans, emerged : 1 0 6 10 Sugarbeets, planted : 96 91 100 100 ---------------------------------------------------------------- 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 05/17/09 1/ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : :Cumulative growing: : Temperature : degree days 2/ : Precipitation :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : : : : : : : : Normal Station : : :Departure: : : :This:Last :Last : Since :------------- :Maximum :Minimum : from :2009 :2008 :Normal:week: two :four :April 1: Since : For : : : normal : : : : :weeks:weeks: :April 1:month ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ironwood : 70 30 174 142 0.59 1.18 3.51 3.93 Marquette : 66 25 133 118 0.59 1.18 3.51 3.94 Stephenson : 69 27 216 197 0.70 1.75 3.78 4.09 Western UP : 70 24 -3 168 143 178 0.63 1.23 3.56 3.96 4.05 3.37 : Cornell : 66 27 178 162 0.91 1.34 3.49 3.88 Sault St Marie : 67 30 122 147 1.59 1.74 2.65 2.90 Eastern UP : 70 22 -3 132 139 109 1.13 1.65 3.88 4.13 4.18 3.01 : Beulah : 72 30 226 282 0.69 1.06 3.24 3.95 Lake City : 69 25 228 265 1.50 1.57 4.15 4.90 Old Mission : 70 28 191 247 0.44 0.53 1.91 2.14 Pellston : 68 21 188 248 0.69 1.06 1.93 2.19 Northwest : 72 21 -3 199 251 214 0.88 1.06 2.73 3.15 4.18 2.61 : Alpena : 68 29 198 246 1.02 1.31 3.20 4.25 Houghton Lake : 66 28 223 277 1.28 1.33 4.43 5.58 Rogers City : 68 28 203 217 0.99 1.16 3.40 4.60 Northeast : 69 20 -3 211 259 200 1.02 1.20 3.59 4.73 4.15 2.76 : Fremont : 66 30 250 310 1.00 1.46 5.23 5.94 Hart : 66 29 230 283 2.24 2.99 6.38 6.67 Muskegon : 66 31 251 286 0.49 0.68 4.78 5.42 West Central : 70 27 -4 250 301 253 1.53 2.15 5.31 5.81 4.62 2.67 : Alma : 66 33 254 313 0.79 1.25 6.53 8.20 Big Rapids : 67 30 272 338 0.64 1.24 4.47 5.46 Central : 67 30 -4 258 320 279 0.72 1.22 5.26 6.32 4.70 2.79 : Bad Axe : 70 33 236 308 0.58 1.32 5.06 6.41 Pigeon : 70 34 231 302 0.51 1.37 4.81 5.85 Saginaw : 67 35 260 331 0.54 1.01 5.21 6.90 Standish : 67 30 243 284 0.89 1.28 4.38 5.56 East Central : 70 30 -3 231 312 264 0.67 1.25 4.87 6.44 4.05 2.63 : Fennville : 70 32 277 308 0.68 0.99 4.64 6.13 Grand Rapids : 69 34 309 362 0.79 1.21 5.06 6.70 Holland : 71 35 313 364 1.13 1.48 6.25 8.32 South Bend, IN : 70 35 340 381 1.20 1.50 3.25 5.14 Watervliet : 69 34 295 340 0.97 1.11 4.26 6.11 Southwest : 71 29 -4 306 355 306 0.98 1.19 4.77 6.58 5.12 3.01 : Belding : 67 31 254 319 0.95 1.45 5.79 6.80 Coldwater : 70 31 323 327 2.78 3.00 4.22 7.19 Lansing : 67 35 281 357 1.41 1.98 5.28 8.45 South Central : 70 31 -4 292 341 306 1.39 1.96 5.05 7.40 4.89 2.92 : Detroit : 72 40 350 384 1.67 1.92 3.83 6.93 Flint : 68 34 295 386 0.99 1.41 4.47 6.75 Romeo : 70 35 280 307 0.53 0.72 2.08 2.83 Tipton : 71 33 330 351 1.74 1.93 3.01 6.38 Toledo, OH : 74 38 356 368 1.17 1.69 2.83 6.46 Southeast : 74 32 -2 312 355 289 1.38 1.67 3.55 6.21 4.80 2.85 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Issued by the USDA, NASS, Michigan Field Office in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Commer 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.