mi-crop-weather State Michigan Crop Weather Released August 10, 2009 Week Ending Date August 9, 2009 Issue MI-CW3209 Agricultural Summary Heavy Rains Five days were suitable for fieldwork during the week ending August 9, according to the USDA, NASS, Michigan Field Office. Precipitation varied from 0.56 inches in the western Upper Peninsula to 3.11 inches in the central Lower Peninsula. Average temperatures ranged from 3 degrees below normal in the northeast Lower Peninsula to normal in the southwest and southeast Lower Peninsula. Rain across Michigan over the weekend provided much needed moisture to relieve dry conditions. Growers still need the warmer temperatures to help crop growth. A grower in the southwest commented, "Rains on Saturday of this week ended a very dry period where crops were showing severe signs of drought." Another grower in the southeast commented, "Drenching rain of about 2 inches fell Saturday and Sunday. This was much needed and should help move crops along." Field Crops Report Field Crops Highly anticipated rain showers and much needed heat appeared in many areas of the State. A reporter in the west central stated, "Finally received sufficient moisture and heat. The crops have everything to be something." A reporter in the southwest was optimistic that the hot, humid weather would help advance developmentally delayed crops. Wheat harvest was all but complete in many areas of the State. In the east central and southeast, baling of wheat straw was occurring. Oat harvest began and good yields were expected due to cooler conditions during the growing season. Corn was silking or filling ears in the southern part of the State. In the northwest, a reporter stated that "corn was at least 12 days behind." Soybeans were blooming or setting pods. The height was impacted by the consistent cool conditions. In addition to concerns of soybean height, the podding quality of the crop was in question also. Alfalfa harvest continued as conditions, in the southern portion of the State, were fully conducive to hay baling. Some farmers were receiving a third cutting while others reported that the second cutting was fully mature. Sugarbeets and dry beans continued to advance. Fruit, Vegetable, and Specialty Crops Report Fruit Apples continued to size well in the southeast; summer pruning was underway. In the northwest, fruit size ranged from 46 to 56 mm in diameter. Apricot harvest was underway in the northwest. Blueberry harvest continued with large volumes of fruit in the southwest; flavor was excellent. Harvest of early variety peaches began in the northwest. In the southwest, peach harvest was underway; dry conditions have reduced fruit size, and brown rot was problematic. Harvest of early Red Haven was underway in the southeast; fruit size continued to suffer, and split pits were a concern. Pears continued to size; most were 2 inches in diameter. Plums were 29 mm in diameter in the northwest. In the southeast, plums were coloring and continued to size. Harvest of early fruiting canes of fall raspberries began in the southeast; fruit was slow to ripen. Sweet cherry harvest was nearly completed in the northwest. Tart cherry harvest continued to progress in the northwest; variability in ripeness was an issue. Wine grapes continued to develop; many were at berry touch. Vegetables Sweet corn harvest continued this week; harvest volume was light, but pest pressures have remained low. Peppers of all varieties were ripening, and picking began on some farms last week. Tomato harvest continued with most reports positive. In the southwest, growers expressed concern about mites found in some tomato fields and late blight confirmed in the area. Cucumber, yellow squash, and zucchini harvest continued with little difficulty. More reports of downy mildew in cucumber fields have raised concerns among vine crop producers. Celery harvest continued with few problems reported. Eggplant harvest continued at a somewhat slow pace but was expected to improve as temperatures increased. Across the State, pumpkin, watermelon, and cantaloup development continued; crop condition was good, especially where irrigation was available, but some growers reported minor problems with verticillium wilt and watermelon mosaic virus. In the southeast, harvest of cabbage and early potatoes continued with no problems reported. In the West Central region, onion and leek development continued; growers expected the most mature onion fields to be ready for harvest next week. In Oceana County, snap bean and carrot fields were being irrigated. Soil Moisture and Crop Condition Tables Soil moisture for week ending 08/09/09 --------------------------------------------- : Very : : : Stratum : short : Short :Adequate:Surplus --------------------------------------------- : Percent : Topsoil : 19 17 49 15 Subsoil : 14 27 53 6 --------------------------------------------- Crop condition for week ending 08/09/09 ----------------------------------------------------------- : Very : : : : Crop : poor : Poor : Fair : Good :Excellent ----------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : All Hay : 4 11 35 42 8 Corn : 6 14 33 39 8 Dry beans : 5 12 41 33 9 Oats : 2 5 29 56 8 Pasture : 7 19 40 30 4 Soybeans : 5 15 32 42 6 ----------------------------------------------------------- Crop progress for week ending 08/09/09 ------------------------------------------------------------- : This : Last : Last :5-year Crop : week : week : year :average ------------------------------------------------------------- : Inches : Corn, height : 73 66 NA NA : : Percent : All hay, second cutting : 70 63 81 81 All hay, third cutting : 17 7 27 25 Blueberries, harvested : 64 57 56 63 Corn, silked : 71 47 95 90 Corn, dough : 4 1 36 29 Dry beans, blooming : 55 32 78 88 Dry beans, setting pods : 12 10 50 61 Oats, turning yellow : 93 84 96 96 Oats, harvested : 27 9 44 55 Peaches, harvested : 22 21 35 34 Potatoes, harvested : 9 7 13 7 Soybeans, blooming : 82 69 94 92 Soybeans, setting pods : 33 15 73 69 Tart cherries, harvested : 80 55 96 95 Winter wheat, harvested : 92 78 100 99 ------------------------------------------------------------- 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 08/09/09 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 : 81 45 1,147 1,234 0.58 0.95 2.35 10.03 Marquette : 81 43 1,039 1,164 0.58 0.95 2.35 10.04 Stephenson : 89 44 1,338 1,516 0.92 1.44 1.87 10.79 Western UP : 89 38 -2 1,141 1,242 1,319 0.56 0.94 2.32 10.28 13.89 3.69 : Cornell : 81 45 1,249 1,372 0.90 1.89 3.47 10.31 Sault St Marie : 80 47 1,028 1,191 0.89 1.12 2.87 10.50 Eastern UP : 81 40 -2 1,050 1,190 1,136 0.77 1.51 3.08 11.72 13.01 3.53 : Beulah : 83 52 1,391 1,624 3.07 4.21 5.12 14.90 Lake City : 83 44 1,327 1,560 2.31 2.85 4.02 15.06 Old Mission : 88 50 1,280 1,546 1.02 1.29 2.86 9.42 Pellston : 84 40 1,203 1,471 0.36 0.96 1.94 7.38 Northwest : 88 40 -2 1,262 1,500 1,496 1.28 1.84 2.80 10.31 12.24 3.11 : Alpena : 88 48 1,288 1,548 1.62 2.34 5.52 14.85 Houghton Lake : 83 43 1,334 1,600 0.87 1.90 4.27 14.03 Rogers City : 86 49 1,266 1,503 0.82 2.31 5.29 14.83 Northeast : 88 42 -3 1,294 1,553 1,448 1.01 1.92 4.51 13.85 12.34 3.12 : Fremont : 85 48 1,521 1,715 2.92 3.12 3.81 13.13 Hart : 86 46 1,443 1,619 1.74 1.74 2.45 14.73 Muskegon : 84 50 1,649 1,701 1.85 1.95 2.58 12.24 West Central : 86 44 -1 1,516 1,656 1,638 2.06 2.34 3.45 14.21 12.36 3.60 : Alma : 90 51 1,559 1,831 3.25 3.36 4.01 17.57 Big Rapids : 83 48 1,461 1,748 2.89 3.39 5.65 17.35 Central : 90 47 -2 1,508 1,770 1,706 3.11 3.33 4.64 16.00 13.34 3.64 : Bad Axe : 89 51 1,432 1,752 0.75 0.85 5.11 15.80 Pigeon : 88 49 1,414 1,696 1.20 1.56 4.80 15.77 Saginaw : 90 50 1,595 1,872 1.64 1.79 2.82 14.91 Standish : 87 47 1,413 1,652 1.74 1.85 3.18 13.48 East Central : 90 47 -2 1,428 1,761 1,692 1.66 1.81 4.12 15.67 12.13 2.93 : Fennville : 88 50 1,599 1,733 1.90 1.93 2.56 15.66 Grand Rapids : 91 52 1,780 1,989 2.35 2.54 3.48 19.08 Holland : 91 53 1,866 1,982 1.84 2.12 4.30 25.01 South Bend, IN : 92 54 1,922 2,052 0.29 1.31 2.19 14.91 Watervliet : 91 52 1,740 1,879 1.40 1.62 2.41 14.09 Southwest : 93 47 0 1,756 1,899 1,839 1.45 1.70 2.53 15.42 14.05 3.18 : Belding : 87 46 1,528 1,765 2.42 2.62 5.53 16.39 Coldwater : 92 49 1,800 1,875 0.30 0.56 1.23 14.26 Lansing : 91 50 1,679 1,933 3.69 3.78 6.10 21.65 South Central : 92 46 -1 1,648 1,880 1,821 2.58 2.77 4.08 17.55 13.92 3.36 : Detroit : 94 55 1,895 2,118 1.36 1.54 2.81 17.11 Flint : 90 49 1,634 1,978 3.94 4.01 5.69 21.04 Romeo : 92 52 1,635 1,853 4.10 4.21 5.44 15.84 Tipton : 92 49 1,697 1,916 1.23 1.36 1.89 14.29 Toledo, OH : 94 52 1,933 2,088 0.18 0.79 1.98 13.76 Southeast : 95 48 0 1,721 1,963 1,804 1.82 2.02 2.90 14.76 13.45 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.