mi-crop-weather State Michigan Crop Weather Released July 6, 2009 Week Ending Date July 5, 2009 Issue MI-CW2709 Agricultural Summary Cool & Damp Five days were suitable for fieldwork during the week ending July 5, according to the USDA, NASS, Michigan Field Office. Precipitation varied from 0.11 inches in the south west Lower Peninsula to 0.90 inches in the eastern Upper Peninsula. Average temperatures ranged from 6 degrees below normal in the eastern Upper Peninsula, and central Lower Peninsula to 8 degrees below normal in the northwest, southwest, and south central Lower Peninsula. Warm temperatures early in the week helped crop development while the cooler temps later in the week was not helpful to crop growth; some growth was experienced and crop growth stages were still behind. Lighter soils were beginning to stress and could use a light rain. Spraying began in many areas across the State for corn and soybeans. One grower reported, "Corn and soybeans are looking better but need rain very soon at this critical time of development. Wheat looks to be one of the best crops in several years. The recent dry weather has helped producers put up dry hay." Field Crops Report Field Crops Warmer temperatures early in the week, combined with wet, cooler temperatures later in the week, continued crop progression. Wheat continued to turn yellow in many other areas of the State. A south central reporter stated, "Wheat looks to be one of the best crops in several years." Oats, barley and soybean development progressed. Oats enjoyed the cooler temperatures. However, soybeans have not reached their rapid growth spurt. Corn progression and side-dressing continued. In some of the northern areas of the State, corn did not reach ankle height by July 4. Alfalfa harvest continued. In some areas, harvest was impeded due to random bouts of rain. In the southeast, a second cutting of alfalfa may begin next week. Sugarbeets were progressing, slowly. According to Michigan Sugar, the replanted acres were due to an overabundance of moisture. Re-plantings of dry beans continued where necessary. Fruit, Vegetable, and Specialty Crops Report Fruit Apples were 1.75 inches in diameter in the southwest and ranged from 23 to 28 mm in the northwest. Apple scab infections expected to increase with the recent round of rainfall. Blueberries were 13 mm in diameter in the southeast; harvest of early varieties began in the southwest. Peaches ranged from 1.75 inches in the southeast to 2 inches in diameter in the southwest; growers were thinning fruit in the west central. Pears ranged from 21 to 26 mm in diameter in the northwest and 1.125 inches in the southeast. Plums were 1 inch in diameter in southern Michigan and 19 mm in the northwest. In the southeast, growers were preparing to harvest summer red and black raspberries; fall red raspberries ranged from 24 to 30 inches in length. Sawfly damage was evident. Strawberry harvest was in full swing in the northwest; renovation began in the southwest. Sweet cherries ranged from 17 to 19 mm in the northwest, while harvest was underway in the southwest. Brown rot and cherry leaf spot infections were a concern. Tart cherries were coloring in the southwest; they were 14 mm in the northwest. Vinifera grape bloom ended in the southwest; juice grapes were close to berry touch in the northwest. Vegetables Most vegetable crops benefitted from warmer, drier conditions early in the week. Across the State, producers were harvesting pickles, yellow squash, zucchini and cabbage in fields that were under row tunnels while more fields were coming into production. Growers kept busy scouting fields for cucumber beetles and downy mildew. Early planted sweet corn was tasseling last week, while in the Grand Rapids area, some fields were silking. Producers continued to monitor for European corn borer and corn earworm. Tomatoes grown under low tunnels had mature green fruit and were nearly ready for harvest. Non-tunneled tomatoes have been tied twice, while some were on their third tie, showing 1.5 to 2.0 inch fruit. In the south, potato fields were in full bloom, and peppers were flowering; early planted peppers have set fruit. In the southwest, watermelon and cantaloup were flowering and developing runners; fruit was softball-size. Eggplant growth had improved with the warmer conditions, but slowed as temperatures cooled at week's end. On muck soils, radishes not hurt by the flooding were progressing well and celery continued progressing toward maturity. A few celery producers began harvest this week. Onions began bulb initiation and expansion. In the east central region, cole crops continued to make good progress this week with relatively little pest pressure. In the west central region, asparagus harvest was complete in all but a few fields. Soil Moisture and Crop Condition Tables Soil moisture for week ending 07/05/09 --------------------------------------------- : Very : : : Stratum : short : Short :Adequate:Surplus --------------------------------------------- : Percent : Topsoil : 3 17 70 10 Subsoil : 2 10 79 9 --------------------------------------------- Crop condition for week ending 07/05/09 ----------------------------------------------------------- : Very : : : : Crop : poor : Poor : Fair : Good :Excellent ----------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : All Hay : 1 7 22 51 19 Corn : 2 5 26 53 14 Dry beans : 3 9 41 41 6 Oats : 0 2 26 59 13 Pasture : 1 5 35 44 15 Soybeans : 2 6 29 51 12 Winter Wheat : 1 5 23 56 15 ----------------------------------------------------------- Crop progress for week ending 07/05/09 ------------------------------------------------------------- : This : Last : Last :5-year Crop : week : week : year :average ------------------------------------------------------------- : Inches : Corn, height : 26 18 30 32 : : Percent : All hay, first cutting : 82 76 85 90 All hay, second cutting : 13 4 16 18 Blueberries, harvested : 8 0 5 3 Dry beans, emerged : 95 63 83 91 Oats, headed : 85 55 87 88 Oats, turning yellow : 15 1 9 15 Soybeans, blooming : 6 3 18 10 Strawberries, harvested : 76 46 77 85 Tart cherries, harvested : 3 0 6 20 Winter wheat, turning yellow : 71 39 87 90 ------------------------------------------------------------- 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 07/05/09 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 : 73 45 709 673 0.26 0.61 1.96 7.65 Marquette : 75 45 599 625 0.26 0.61 1.96 7.66 Stephenson : 81 45 807 845 0.08 0.23 0.97 8.88 Western UP : 81 39 -7 680 679 748 0.24 0.59 2.01 7.93 9.75 3.42 : Cornell : 77 45 734 740 0.20 0.28 0.79 6.82 Sault St Marie : 71 44 600 624 0.56 1.22 2.45 7.54 Eastern UP : 77 44 -6 604 636 599 0.90 1.19 2.03 8.64 9.23 3.19 : Beulah : 79 48 855 911 0.98 1.13 2.23 9.62 Lake City : 79 43 823 898 0.80 0.99 2.17 10.96 Old Mission : 77 44 766 851 1.09 1.50 2.29 6.20 Pellston : 76 36 733 844 0.47 1.03 1.84 5.35 Northwest : 79 36 -8 767 840 871 0.73 1.03 1.85 7.32 8.78 2.99 : Alpena : 79 45 769 876 0.89 1.33 3.00 9.25 Houghton Lake : 79 39 815 930 0.23 0.48 1.67 9.61 Rogers City : 76 47 776 822 0.44 0.71 2.13 8.76 Northeast : 79 39 -7 790 892 832 0.46 0.72 2.23 9.10 8.71 3.18 : Fremont : 81 50 952 1,008 0.16 0.23 2.13 8.86 Hart : 79 51 887 921 0.51 0.53 3.17 12.15 Muskegon : 76 51 1,007 963 0.30 0.30 2.13 9.44 West Central : 81 49 -7 937 955 973 0.51 0.53 2.47 10.54 9.23 2.54 : Alma : 80 51 959 1,064 0.31 0.47 3.57 13.36 Big Rapids : 75 51 959 1,042 0.31 0.31 3.18 9.92 Central : 80 50 -6 955 1,045 1,030 0.30 0.38 3.09 10.68 9.72 2.97 : Bad Axe : 79 49 844 1,011 0.59 0.96 3.52 10.66 Pigeon : 79 47 845 984 0.75 0.86 3.97 10.86 Saginaw : 80 50 968 1,112 1.00 1.15 4.24 11.77 Standish : 81 45 871 967 0.56 0.77 3.76 10.26 East Central : 81 45 -7 856 1,032 1,010 0.76 1.07 4.11 11.41 8.71 2.92 : Fennville : 77 51 1,009 995 0.08 0.43 4.54 12.56 Grand Rapids : 80 53 1,118 1,171 0.17 1.25 5.64 14.25 Holland : 79 55 1,174 1,159 0.14 0.30 9.05 19.60 South Bend, IN : 80 55 1,222 1,232 0.09 0.10 5.83 12.25 Watervliet : 79 52 1,097 1,113 0.10 0.20 4.00 11.35 Southwest : 81 51 -8 1,111 1,131 1,108 0.11 0.28 4.52 12.46 10.53 3.09 : Belding : 79 48 962 1,045 0.20 0.26 2.89 10.70 Coldwater : 82 52 1,149 1,127 0.15 0.15 4.25 12.85 Lansing : 82 53 1,028 1,147 0.30 0.31 4.27 15.15 South Central : 82 48 -8 1,039 1,118 1,105 0.20 0.30 4.18 12.92 10.35 3.22 : Detroit : 81 55 1,175 1,258 0.16 0.58 5.09 13.26 Flint : 80 49 1,020 1,197 0.53 0.53 6.84 14.84 Romeo : 81 51 1,002 1,100 0.50 3.18 5.86 10.20 Tipton : 81 54 1,089 1,151 0.10 0.15 3.78 11.92 Toledo, OH : 84 53 1,215 1,238 0.07 0.30 3.30 11.52 Southeast : 84 47 -7 1,080 1,173 1,074 0.25 0.65 4.16 11.56 10.00 3.11 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.