mi-crop-weather State Michigan Crop Weather Released August 17, 2009 Week Ending Date August 16, 2009 Issue MI-CW3309 Agricultural Summary Sunny and Warm Six days were suitable for fieldwork during the week ending August 16, according to the USDA, NASS, Michigan Field Office. Precipitation varied from 0.11 inches in the southeast Lower Peninsula to 1.16 inches in the northeast Lower Peninsula. Average temperatures ranged from 6 degrees above normal in the western and eastern Upper Peninsula to 4 degrees above normal in the west central, east central, southwest, and south central Lower Peninsula. Rain showers throughout the week boosted moisture levels in the soil. Crops progressed well this week with the warmer temperatures and rain. Things were looking better despite the cool temperatures experienced in early summer. A grower in the east central Lower Peninsula commented, "We finally are getting the warmer weather we need. I hope we can still catch up. The good rain we received last weekend put all crops in very good position for a good finish if we don't run out of time." Another grower in the central Lower Peninsula commented, "The bountiful rains of one week ago easily carried us through the sunny and warm temperatures. More rain in the forecast will continue to help." Field Crops Report Field Crops A week of much needed heat and additional moisture in many areas of the State was extremely beneficial for the stressed crops. In the northern Lower Peninsula, crops were reported to be about 2 weeks behind. Wheat harvest was complete in many areas of the State. In southeast, preparation of this year's wheat fields for the next crop was occurring. Oat harvest was well underway. Corn grew significantly this week with the pleasant weather conditions. However, it still needs time to mature. In the south central it was reported that, "the corn was expected to be about 80% of a good, normal crop and soybeans to be 70% if there is enough time to mature fully before the frost." Soybeans responded well to the sunny weather conditions of last week. There were reports of new blossoms and growth. Alfalfa harvest continued as conditions permitted. In the west central a reporter stated, "High humidity of this week did not favor good hay drying conditions." Sugarbeets responded to the recent rains and were beginning to look better. It was reported that Michigan Sugar will start taking sugarbeets on September 15. Dry beans continued to advance. In Saginaw, there were reports of Leafhoppers in the crop. Fruit, Vegetable, and Specialty Crops Report Fruit Apple fruit size and quality were good in the southwest, as harvest of early varieties began. In the northwest, fruit size ranged from 48 to 60 mm in diameter. Growers in Michigan's Fruit Ridge worked to recover from damage incurred by high winds on the night of August 9 that ravaged several orchards; damage was variable. Apricot harvest was completed in the northwest. Blueberry harvest was winding down in the southwest; fruit size and quality was good in irrigated fields. Peach harvest continued; bacterial spot symptoms continued to increase. Fruit size of early varieties suffered in the southern region due in part to winter injury, bacterial spot infections and dry conditions; fruit flavor was generally good. Pears were over 2 inches in diameter; pear psylla populations continued to build and European red mites caused black leaves in some blocks. European plums were being harvested in the southwest, where pitting and gumming was fairly common as a result of bacterial canker in early June; apple maggots continued to be problematic in ripening plums. Harvest of Japanese plums continued in the west central. Harvest of early variety fall raspberries was underway in the southwest and continued on early fruiting canes on some farms in the southeast, where berries have been slow to ripen. Tart cherry harvest was completed in the west central and continued in the northwest. Verasion began in early variety grapes in the southwest; concerns for botrytis and downy mildew increased. In the northwest, growers were pruning or hedging to offset significant growth from the cool, wet weather this season; wine grapes were at berry touch. Vegetables Warmer temperatures across the State helped vegetable development, but many growers continued to be concerned with the lack of moisture. Although rain from the previous weekend's storm provided temporary relief for many producers, some damage to vegetable crops on muck soils was reported. In the Grand Rapids region, celery harvest continued; damage from rain was reported to be spotty, but significant for a few growers. Onion harvest began this week; although most onion fields looked good, downy mildew did reduce onion yields in some fields. In Oceana County, snap beans development continued with few problems reported; however, disease pressures remained high in some carrot fields. Asparagus fern continued to look good; insect pressure and foliar diseases appeared mostly under control. In the Grand Rapids region, there were reports of viral problems in squash fields, and fungal pathogen damage in melon fields, while in the southeast, pumpkin, watermelon, and cantaloup development looked excellent in many fields. Across the State, harvest of broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, red beets, radishes, and lettuce continued; growers continued to monitor traps for diamond backed moths. Cucumber and pickle growers continued to monitor and spray fields for downy mildew. Tomatoes were in good condition, but ripening slowly. Pepper and eggplant harvest continued with few problems reported. Sweet corn harvest was in full swing across the State last week; European corn borer numbers continued to be low, while corn earworm numbers began to increase. In the southwest, more potatoes were harvested with no problems reported. Soil Moisture and Crop Condition Tables Soil moisture for week ending 08/16/09 --------------------------------------------- : Very : : : Stratum : short : Short :Adequate:Surplus --------------------------------------------- : Percent : Topsoil : 14 20 63 3 Subsoil : 11 21 66 2 --------------------------------------------- Crop condition for week ending 08/16/09 ----------------------------------------------------------- : Very : : : : Crop : poor : Poor : Fair : Good :Excellent ----------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : All Hay : 3 12 34 42 9 Corn : 7 13 32 38 10 Dry beans : 5 10 40 35 10 Oats : 3 8 30 49 10 Pasture : 5 18 35 34 8 Soybeans : 7 15 29 40 9 ----------------------------------------------------------- Crop progress for week ending 08/16/09 ---------------------------------------------------------------- : This : Last : Last : 5-year Crop : week : week : year :average ---------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : All hay, second cutting : 78 70 87 86 All hay, third cutting : 24 17 37 35 Apples, harvested : 4 3 0 NA Blueberries, harvested : 75 64 73 76 Corn, silked : 91 71 99 95 Corn, dough : 21 4 62 55 Dry beans, blooming : 79 55 95 97 Dry beans, setting pods : 27 12 72 83 Oats, turning yellow : 96 93 100 98 Oats, harvested : 38 27 70 75 Peaches, harvested : 29 22 38 43 Potatoes, harvested : 12 9 17 11 Soybeans, blooming : 87 82 99 97 Soybeans, setting pods : 56 33 90 84 Tart cherries, harvested : 93 80 99 99 Winter wheat, harvested : 96 92 100 NA ---------------------------------------------------------------- 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 08/16/09 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 : 88 48 1,300 1,328 0.40 0.98 1.99 10.43 Marquette : 86 54 1,182 1,251 0.40 0.98 1.99 10.44 Stephenson : 86 50 1,488 1,625 0.46 1.38 2.23 11.25 Western UP : 90 42 6 1,284 1,337 1,423 0.37 0.89 2.06 10.61 14.53 3.69 : Cornell : 83 53 1,386 1,484 0.38 1.28 3.65 10.69 Sault St Marie : 85 53 1,168 1,302 0.21 1.10 2.39 10.71 Eastern UP : 87 50 6 1,186 1,292 1,234 0.33 1.09 2.89 12.04 13.71 3.53 : Beulah : 87 56 1,546 1,731 0.27 3.34 5.39 15.17 Lake City : 85 51 1,466 1,663 0.08 2.39 4.06 15.14 Old Mission : 88 51 1,426 1,654 0.63 1.65 3.45 10.05 Pellston : 89 46 1,341 1,571 2.84 3.20 4.51 10.22 Northwest : 89 46 5 1,405 1,603 1,608 0.77 2.05 3.46 11.08 12.87 3.11 : Alpena : 88 55 1,438 1,648 0.89 2.51 6.10 15.74 Houghton Lake : 87 50 1,475 1,693 0.18 1.05 4.36 14.21 Rogers City : 88 55 1,415 1,606 2.56 4.29 8.63 18.30 Northeast : 89 49 5 1,441 1,650 1,559 1.16 2.32 5.61 15.16 12.92 3.12 : Fremont : 86 55 1,674 1,822 0.35 3.27 3.80 13.48 Hart : 87 53 1,588 1,716 0.10 1.84 2.45 14.83 Muskegon : 89 57 1,815 1,808 0.39 2.24 2.37 12.63 West Central : 89 49 4 1,667 1,757 1,758 0.25 2.22 3.30 14.38 12.98 3.60 : Alma : 88 58 1,721 1,945 0.42 3.67 4.34 17.99 Big Rapids : 86 53 1,609 1,852 0.16 3.05 5.63 17.51 Central : 88 53 5 1,663 1,878 1,830 0.33 3.43 4.80 16.32 13.95 3.64 : Bad Axe : 88 54 1,588 1,855 0.00 0.75 4.72 15.80 Pigeon : 88 53 1,563 1,790 0.01 1.21 4.75 15.78 Saginaw : 89 58 1,759 1,978 0.50 2.14 3.23 15.41 Standish : 88 54 1,562 1,749 0.54 2.28 3.69 14.02 East Central : 89 53 4 1,581 1,863 1,817 0.37 2.03 4.35 16.04 12.69 2.93 : Fennville : 90 55 1,753 1,832 0.33 2.23 2.26 15.99 Grand Rapids : 89 58 1,949 2,111 0.11 2.46 2.74 19.19 Holland : 91 56 2,026 2,108 0.35 3.63 4.56 26.80 South Bend, IN : 92 56 2,092 2,164 0.24 0.53 1.95 15.15 Watervliet : 91 56 1,902 1,987 0.35 1.75 2.21 14.44 Southwest : 93 52 4 1,918 2,009 1,974 0.25 1.93 2.44 15.91 14.66 3.18 : Belding : 86 54 1,685 1,878 0.72 3.14 5.97 17.11 Coldwater : 93 53 1,962 1,993 0.01 0.31 1.24 14.27 Lansing : 89 57 1,844 2,041 0.36 4.05 6.45 22.01 South Central : 93 53 4 1,807 1,989 1,952 0.46 2.75 4.04 17.72 14.57 3.36 : Detroit : 90 62 2,077 2,252 0.00 1.36 2.53 17.11 Flint : 88 56 1,793 2,084 0.28 4.22 5.06 21.32 Romeo : 91 57 1,797 1,977 0.08 3.97 5.27 15.71 Tipton : 90 49 1,853 2,029 0.04 1.27 1.87 14.33 Toledo, OH : 94 58 2,104 2,225 0.46 0.64 2.28 14.22 Southeast : 95 49 5 1,884 2,082 1,938 0.11 1.90 2.72 14.83 14.07 3.12 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.