mi-crop-weather State Michigan Crop Weather Released September 14, 2009 Week Ending Date September 13, 2009 Issue MI-CW3709 Agricultural Summary Warm and Dry Seven days were suitable for fieldwork during the week ending September 13, according to the USDA, NASS, Michigan Field Office. Precipitation varied from zero precipitation in the eastern and western Upper Peninsula, northeast, northwest, west central, central, and east central Lower Peninsula to 0.73 in the southeast Lower Peninsula. Average temperatures ranged from 2 degrees above normal in the east central, southwest, south central and southeast Lower Peninsula to 8 degrees above normal in the eastern Upper Peninsula. A good week of warm temperatures was a welcome change from the cooler than normal temperatures that predominated this growing season. Although crop development remained behind normal, the above normal temperatures proved beneficial to the advancement of crops. A grower in the south central noted, "Unseasonably warm weather has helped the soybean and corn crop to progress." Field Crops Report Field Crops Continued mild, pleasant conditions, combined with very minimal precipitation have significantly advanced the development of crops in all areas of the State. Wheat, for the 2010 crop year, was planted in some fields. Oats and rye were combined in the northeast. Corn advancement continued. In the northwest, corn leaves were curling due to a lack of moisture. Some farmers were harvesting corn for silage. Soybeans increased in size, were turning color, and filling pods as a result of warmer temperatures. In the Thumb, some fields were showing white mold damage. Warmer temperatures last week resulted in gains for both corn and soybeans. Concern for corn and soybean development, prior to the frost remained. Alfalfa harvest continued, with some farmers receiving a fourth cutting. Some alfalfa was planted in wheat fields. Sugarbeet harvest will begin this week. However, due to the volatility of the commodity and warmer temperatures, harvest will be limited. Slicing of the beets is expected to begin on Wednesday. Dry bean advancement continued. Fruit, Vegetable, and Specialty Crops Report Fruit Apple harvest continued. In the southeast, growers harvested early maturing strains of McIntosh apples. Black rot symptoms were found on maturing fruit. Blueberry harvest was completed. Peach harvest continued to progress. In the southeast, peach harvest was winding down; and bacterial spot was prevalent. Harvest of Stanley and Bartlett pears continued. Plum harvest continued. Harvest continued for fall raspberries; fruit has been slow to ripen at many farms. Cane removal in summer red, purple and black raspberries was completed. Leaf curling in newly planted strawberries occurred in the southeast; symptoms of powdery mildew were found. In the northwest, grapes continued to mature as many varieties were changing colors. Harvest of table grapes continued in the southwest. Vegetables Sweet corn harvest continued across the State with most farms reporting good yields. Growers in the southeast expected later plantings to be ready to harvest in the next one to two weeks. Tomato harvest continued as late planted fields have come into production. Septorial leaf spot, early blight, and late blight have caused some problems for tomato growers, but the fungicide program recommended for commercial production should keep most diseases in check. Pepper and eggplant harvest continued; aphids and virus symptoms were found in some pepper plantings in the southwest. Summer squash harvest was winding down with mostly positive reports, while winter squash harvest began and looked favorable so far. Watermelons were also being harvested in a number of locations, while pumpkins were developing at a good rate this week; foliar diseases and fruit rots have challenged some watermelon and pumpkin producers. Yields from cole crops such as cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower were reported as good to excellent. Downy mildew has caused stand reductions and poor yields for some onion growers; however, onion yields were good where stands are in good condition and mildew has been kept in check. In the Grand Rapids area, celery growers reported good production and quality; however in some fields, crop yields were reduced where rainfall was excessive earlier this season. Also in the Grand Rapids area, harvest and new plantings of radishes continued. Soil Moisture and Crop Condition Tables Soil moisture for week ending 09/13/09 --------------------------------------------- : Very : : : Stratum : short : Short :Adequate:Surplus --------------------------------------------- : Percent : Topsoil : 10 34 55 1 Subsoil : 6 32 61 1 --------------------------------------------- Crop condition for week ending 09/13/09 ----------------------------------------------------------- : Very : : : : Crop : poor : Poor : Fair : Good :Excellent ----------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : All Hay : 2 8 27 50 13 Corn : 5 11 28 44 12 Dry beans : 6 18 39 31 6 Pasture : 2 10 40 38 10 Soybeans : 4 12 30 42 12 ----------------------------------------------------------- Crop progress for week ending 09/13/09 ---------------------------------------------------------------- : This : Last : Last : 5-year Crop : week : week : year :average ---------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : All hay, second cutting : 91 90 100 100 All hay, third cutting : 63 54 72 76 All hay, fourth cutting : 17 10 18 18 Apples, harvested : 18 11 18 18 Corn, dough : 81 75 93 94 Corn, dent : 41 21 77 75 Corn silage, harvested : 5 2 38 43 Dry beans, turning leaves : 68 45 79 92 Dry beans, dropping leaves : 37 18 47 65 Oats, harvested : 95 91 100 99 Peaches, harvested : 82 65 75 87 Potatoes, harvested : 32 26 33 31 Soybeans, turning leaves : 27 6 66 60 Soybeans, dropping leaves : 4 0 26 25 Winter wheat, planted : 3 0 2 3 ---------------------------------------------------------------- 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 09/13/09 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 46 1,653 1,715 0.00 0.00 2.58 11.01 Marquette : 81 50 1,537 1,635 0.00 0.00 2.58 12.06 Stephenson : 86 46 1,880 2,022 0.00 0.00 1.91 13.16 Western UP : 86 41 7 1,642 1,709 1,793 0.00 0.01 2.49 12.60 18.03 3.58 : Cornell : 80 51 1,743 1,927 0.00 0.02 1.83 12.52 Sault St Marie : 79 53 1,560 1,681 0.00 0.06 2.50 13.21 Eastern UP : 83 47 8 1,545 1,680 1,582 0.00 0.02 2.23 14.27 16.83 3.55 : Beulah : 83 49 1,929 2,197 0.00 0.00 2.71 17.87 Lake City : 82 40 1,844 2,070 0.00 0.00 2.60 17.69 Old Mission : 83 46 1,828 2,098 0.00 0.00 2.29 12.34 Pellston : 81 39 1,722 1,968 0.00 0.00 2.17 12.39 Northwest : 83 39 5 1,785 2,026 2,033 0.00 0.03 2.10 13.19 15.81 3.66 : Alpena : 78 43 1,829 2,051 0.00 0.00 3.28 19.02 Houghton Lake : 81 35 1,857 2,113 0.00 0.00 1.27 16.27 Rogers City : 77 45 1,784 2,038 0.00 0.00 2.42 20.75 Northeast : 81 35 3 1,818 2,055 1,969 0.00 0.00 2.41 17.55 15.82 3.47 : Fremont : 83 47 2,096 2,290 0.00 0.00 1.46 14.94 Hart : 82 47 1,985 2,181 0.00 0.00 1.99 16.82 Muskegon : 83 48 2,283 2,315 0.00 0.00 1.95 14.58 West Central : 85 43 5 2,084 2,228 2,217 0.00 0.00 1.79 16.19 16.13 3.19 : Alma : 83 48 2,139 2,399 0.00 0.00 1.09 19.08 Big Rapids : 81 46 1,985 2,272 0.00 0.00 1.87 21.49 Central : 83 46 3 2,066 2,321 2,289 0.00 0.00 1.41 18.26 16.98 3.09 : Bad Axe : 82 46 2,009 2,315 0.00 0.00 0.58 16.38 Pigeon : 81 42 1,974 2,225 0.00 0.00 0.87 16.65 Saginaw : 84 47 2,207 2,458 0.01 0.01 0.51 15.92 Standish : 82 43 1,963 2,176 0.00 0.00 1.21 15.23 East Central : 84 42 2 1,999 2,316 2,290 0.00 0.00 0.80 16.83 15.07 2.70 : Fennville : 82 46 2,179 2,329 0.00 0.00 2.93 18.92 Grand Rapids : 81 50 2,415 2,652 0.04 0.04 2.12 21.31 Holland : 82 49 2,517 2,681 0.26 0.26 3.85 30.52 South Bend, IN : 80 47 2,552 2,733 0.07 0.07 6.58 21.73 Watervliet : 81 47 2,354 2,505 0.07 0.07 3.56 18.00 Southwest : 84 45 2 2,371 2,529 2,490 0.05 0.05 3.46 19.46 17.41 3.26 : Belding : 81 46 2,111 2,353 0.00 0.00 1.33 18.44 Coldwater : 83 44 2,422 2,503 0.14 0.14 3.53 17.80 Lansing : 79 49 2,282 2,564 0.00 0.00 2.27 24.28 South Central : 83 44 2 2,232 2,481 2,448 0.15 0.16 2.26 20.01 17.25 2.79 : Detroit : 82 53 2,599 2,835 0.55 0.55 1.94 19.05 Flint : 80 46 2,234 2,602 0.00 0.00 0.86 22.14 Romeo : 81 50 2,244 2,467 1.04 1.07 2.37 18.03 Tipton : 80 59 2,311 2,547 0.97 1.00 3.78 18.11 Toledo, OH : 82 50 2,599 2,804 1.66 1.95 3.82 18.43 Southeast : 99 2 2 2,340 2,616 2,445 0.73 0.75 2.68 17.76 16.54 2.43 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.