mi-crop-weather State Michigan Crop Weather Released August 31, 2009 Week Ending Date August 30, 2009 Issue MI-CW3509 Agricultural Summary Cool-Cold Weather Four days were suitable for fieldwork during the week ending August 30, according to the USDA, NASS, Michigan Field Office. Precipitation varied from 0.53 inches in the east central Lower Peninsula to 1.70 inches in the southwest Lower Peninsula. Average temperatures ranged from 8 degrees below normal in the east central and southwest Lower Peninsula to 5 degrees below normal in the eastern Upper Peninsula. Scattered Rain showers continued throughout the week providing much needed moisture to crops. Cool temperatures were as low as 31 degrees one morning in the western Upper Peninsula. Warm temperatures are needed with a long fall to help crops mature. With the cool temperatures we have experienced this past week, growers are growing more concerned about a possible early frost in September. A grower in the central Lower Peninsula commented, "This cold weather is not helping the corn and the soybeans. Farmers in my area are worried about an early frost. If that happens, you can forget the soybean and corn crops." Another grower from the southwest Lower Peninsula commented, "Cool wet weather has hampered crop development. Cold mornings have also slowed growth. Concerns about crop maturity continue. Rains last week were much needed for crop growth. Warm weather is critical at this time." Field Crops Report Field Crops Cooler temperatures in many areas had farmers concerned about the continued development of the crop. However, in the Upper Peninsula and the northern Lower Peninsula, harvest of hay and small grains was deterred by continued precipitation. In the remaining parts of the State, the precipitation was welcomed. Farmers were preparing wheat fields for the 2010 crop. There were reports that wheat plantings would be late. Oat harvest continued. Corn and soybean development was still behind as heat units were desperately needed. Many farmers expressed that the cooler temperatures were not of any benefit to corn and soybeans. As conditions permitted, alfalfa harvest continued. In the southwest, alfalfa was being seeded. In the Central region, rainfall was sporadic. A farmer reported, "A good rain would really help the beet crop." Farmers were digging pre-harvest samples of sugarbeets; harvest was still expected to begin on September 15. Dry bean advancement continued. Fruit, Vegetable, and Specialty Crops Report Fruit Harvest of Paula Red, Dandee Red, Chenango, and Ginger Gold apples was underway in the southwest; apple scab symptoms were fairly common on some fruit. Early variety apples continued to be harvested with excellent quality in the west central. In the southeast, Ginger Gold and Wealthy varieties were being harvested; Paula Red harvest was completed. Jersey and Elliot blueberries continued to be harvested. Peach harvest continued. Red Haven harvest was completed in the southeast; a lighter than normal crop was reported. In the southwest, growers were harvesting PF23, PF24-007, PF24C, Allstar, Glowingstar, Blushing Star, and Baby Gold 5 varieties; a few split pits were found. Pears continued to size in the northwest and southeast. In the southwest, harvest of Bartlett pears continued; growers were encouraged to protect against second generation codling moth in the southwest. Plum harvest continued in most areas. In the northwest, plums continued to size; some plums were still green. In the southwest, apple maggots continued to be problematic in ripening plums. Fall raspberry harvest was in full swing in the southern region; potato leafhopper burn was reported in new growth. Recent rains were beneficial to strawberries in renovated fields. Grapes were at green fruit in the northwest. Vegetables Downy mildew continued in some pickle and cucumber fields. Late blight continued to be a problem for tomato growers. The fungicide program recommended for commercial production should keep the disease in check in commercial plantings. In the West Central region, late blight continued to be a problem for potato producers who had not applied scheduled fungicide applications. Harvest of peppers, eggplant, cabbage, lettuce, radishes, zucchini, and yellow squash continued with little problems. Aphids and mites were found in some fields. Sweet corn harvest continued, but was slowed due to cool weather. Some fields had mites, rust, and earworm activity. Spray schedules were keeping problems in check. Watermelons were also in good supply. Powdery mildew was a problem in some of the vine crops, but overall harvest results remained positive. Pumpkins were beginning to color, some early fall squash were being harvested. Onion harvest continued with mixed results in the Grand Rapids area. There was growing pressure from thrips. In the southeastern counties, onions were being rolled and cured on muck soils. Also, in the Grand Rapids area, carrot and celery harvest continued. Celery was about half completed with yield quality and quantity remaining positive. Soil Moisture and Crop Condition Tables Soil moisture for week ending 08/30/09 --------------------------------------------- : Very : : : Stratum : short : Short :Adequate:Surplus --------------------------------------------- : Percent : Topsoil : 1 15 76 8 Subsoil : 2 18 77 3 --------------------------------------------- Crop condition for week ending 08/30/09 ----------------------------------------------------------- : Very : : : : Crop : poor : Poor : Fair : Good :Excellent ----------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : All Hay : 2 9 25 51 13 Corn : 4 11 26 46 13 Dry beans : 8 13 36 32 11 Pasture : 2 6 33 47 12 Soybeans : 4 10 27 47 12 ----------------------------------------------------------- Crop progress for week ending 08/30/09 ---------------------------------------------------------------- : This : Last : Last : 5-year Crop : week : week : year :average ---------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : All hay, second cutting : 86 81 95 95 All hay, third cutting : 39 30 54 56 All hay, fourth cutting : 2 0 3 4 Apples, harvested : 7 5 6 5 Blueberries, harvested : 91 80 90 91 Corn, dough : 65 41 84 80 Corn, dent : 13 3 43 42 Dry beans, setting pods : 92 79 99 100 Dry beans, turning leaves : 17 5 30 52 Dry beans, dropping leaves : 3 0 15 22 Oats, harvested : 84 68 97 96 Peaches, harvested : 56 45 50 63 Potatoes, harvested : 17 14 21 17 Soybeans, setting pods : 95 80 100 97 Soybeans, turning leaves : 1 0 18 14 ---------------------------------------------------------------- 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 08/30/09 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 : 79 36 1,456 1,561 1.35 2.58 3.56 11.01 Marquette : 79 43 1,334 1,476 1.35 2.58 3.56 12.06 Stephenson : 79 41 1,665 1,847 0.99 1.91 3.29 13.16 Western UP : 80 31 -6 1,440 1,555 1,628 1.36 2.48 3.38 12.60 16.16 3.69 : Cornell : 76 43 1,548 1,748 0.74 1.81 3.09 12.50 Sault St Marie : 76 45 1,345 1,521 1.14 2.44 3.54 13.15 Eastern UP : 80 41 -5 1,344 1,519 1,429 0.82 2.21 3.30 14.25 15.28 3.53 : Beulah : 78 46 1,729 1,999 1.77 2.71 6.05 17.87 Lake City : 77 45 1,652 1,893 0.87 2.60 4.99 17.69 Old Mission : 80 46 1,614 1,912 1.24 2.29 3.94 12.34 Pellston : 77 39 1,528 1,807 1.15 2.17 5.37 12.39 Northwest : 80 39 -7 1,586 1,848 1,839 1.05 2.08 4.15 13.16 14.30 3.11 : Alpena : 79 45 1,638 1,882 2.37 3.28 5.79 19.02 Houghton Lake : 77 43 1,672 1,936 0.82 1.27 2.32 16.27 Rogers City : 79 44 1,603 1,853 0.91 2.42 6.74 20.75 Northeast : 79 40 -7 1,628 1,884 1,783 1.32 2.41 4.63 17.55 14.37 3.12 : Fremont : 80 47 1,872 2,086 0.40 1.46 4.73 14.94 Hart : 77 45 1,776 1,981 1.14 1.99 3.83 16.82 Muskegon : 78 51 2,053 2,096 0.96 1.95 4.19 14.58 West Central : 82 43 -7 1,869 2,024 2,004 0.79 1.83 4.08 16.23 14.71 3.60 : Alma : 80 49 1,949 2,195 1.00 1.26 4.93 19.25 Big Rapids : 79 48 1,796 2,093 1.27 1.87 4.92 21.49 Central : 80 48 -7 1,867 2,126 2,076 0.91 1.45 4.88 18.30 15.65 3.64 : Bad Axe : 82 51 1,806 2,106 0.48 0.58 1.33 16.38 Pigeon : 80 44 1,776 2,021 0.27 0.87 2.08 16.65 Saginaw : 82 49 1,991 2,236 0.43 0.50 2.64 15.91 Standish : 81 45 1,769 1,987 0.93 1.21 3.49 15.23 East Central : 82 44 -8 1,796 2,109 2,070 0.53 0.80 2.84 16.83 14.00 2.93 : Fennville : 78 48 1,966 2,113 1.96 2.93 5.16 18.92 Grand Rapids : 81 51 2,191 2,414 1.64 2.08 4.54 21.27 Holland : 82 48 2,283 2,427 2.04 3.51 7.01 30.18 South Bend, IN : 81 49 2,326 2,479 1.87 6.51 7.04 21.66 Watervliet : 80 48 2,131 2,275 1.82 3.49 5.24 17.93 Southwest : 83 47 -8 2,146 2,299 2,248 1.70 3.31 5.35 19.33 16.13 3.18 : Belding : 80 47 1,891 2,142 0.57 1.33 4.47 18.44 Coldwater : 82 48 2,200 2,270 0.88 3.39 3.70 17.66 Lansing : 81 48 2,078 2,328 2.13 2.27 6.32 24.28 South Central : 82 47 -7 2,024 2,261 2,217 1.29 2.12 4.88 19.88 16.11 3.36 : Detroit : 82 53 2,350 2,568 0.71 1.39 2.75 18.50 Flint : 80 49 2,025 2,370 0.53 0.86 5.08 22.14 Romeo : 82 49 2,021 2,242 1.06 1.31 5.23 16.97 Tipton : 80 51 2,081 2,317 1.65 2.78 4.05 17.11 Toledo, OH : 82 53 2,369 2,530 0.67 1.87 2.90 16.48 Southeast : 82 47 -7 2,123 2,371 2,210 1.17 1.92 3.84 17.00 15.54 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.