mi-crop-weather State Michigan Crop Weather Released September 21, 2009 Week Ending Date September 20, 2009 Issue MI-CW3809 Agricultural Summary Another Dry Week Seven days were suitable for fieldwork during the week ending September 20, according to the USDA, NASS, Michigan Field Office. Precipitation varied from 0.04 inch in the central Lower Peninsula to 0.47 inch in the northeast Lower Peninsula. Average temperatures ranged from 1 degree below normal in the east central, south central and southeast Lower Peninsula to 5 degrees above normal in the western Upper Peninsula. Early summer conditions continued to be experienced during the week. Warm and dry conditions have been conducive to crop development. A grower in the southwest reported, "Favorable weather continues to help the crop towards maturity. It would appear that crops have advanced enough that they will mature." However, the lack of moisture began to show visible signs of stress in some crops. A grower in the northwest commented, "The lack of moisture has increased the ripening of fruit and the leaves on the corn are curling." Field Crops Report Field Crops Continued mild conditions have continued the advancement of crops. However, the lack of significant moisture has many areas at or near drought. Wheat planting continued. Wheat planting is expected to be in full swing by October 1. Corn was still about 2 weeks behind normal, but was advancing. Thus far, the amicable temperatures have helped to advance the crop, but the crop still needs time to mature. Some drying of the crop has begun due to the lack of moisture this summer. Corn for silage harvest was underway. Soybeans were drying down, and were turning color. In the southeast, were generally in growth stages ranging from R6 to R7. There were issues related to white mold, Sudden Death Syndrome, and soybean cyst nematode. Additionally, grasshoppers were abundant and causing pod damage. Alfalfa harvest continued, as the conditions were ideal for cutting, drying and baling. Sugarbeet harvest was underway. However, harvest was difficult due to hard, dry soils. Additionally, the crops were severely dehydrated. Dry bean advancement continued and harvest was underway. However, due to the dry weather, bean sizes were reported as small by some growers. Fruit, Vegetable, and Specialty Crops Report Fruit Apple harvest for fresh and processed apples continued in the southwest. Sunscald symptoms were found on Gala apples; sooty blotch and flyspeck were present in some orchards. Early maturing Jonathon apple varieties were being picked for fresh market in the southeast. Peach harvest was winding down; picking of PF35 and PF27A continued. Heavy morning dews brought brown rot problems in some orchards; fungicide treatments should be applied as needed. Pear harvest continued. Pear scab, Fabraea leafspot and sooty blotch were the primary diseases of concern. Plum harvest was winding down. Jaclyn, Caroline and Polana fall raspberry and Chester, Triple Crown, Prime-Jan and Prime-Jim blackberry varieties were being picked. Wine grapes were in veraison in the northwest. Niagara grape harvest is expected to begin next week. Vegetables Farmers took advantage of the week's warm, dry conditions to accelerate the pace of vegetable harvest and seed cover crops on harvested fields. Tomato harvest continued with plants responding well to the nice weather. Cooler conditions earlier in the season allowed extended harvest on many fields. Early pumpkin harvest began in some fields, growers reported much of the crop required more time to mature. Watermelon, eggplant, and sweet corn harvest was winding down this week. Pepper, yellow squash, and zucchini harvest continued at a reduced pace. In the Grand Rapids area, celery harvest continued on schedule with planted acres at 70 percent harvested. Across the State, producers continued harvesting a variety of other vegetables including potatoes, watermelon, cantaloup, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, onions, snap beans, and carrots. Growers also continued to monitor fields for disease and pest pressures. Soil Moisture and Crop Condition Tables Soil moisture for week ending 09/20/09 --------------------------------------------- : Very : : : Stratum : short : Short :Adequate:Surplus --------------------------------------------- : Percent : Topsoil : 17 45 38 0 Subsoil : 10 37 52 1 --------------------------------------------- Crop condition for week ending 09/20/09 ----------------------------------------------------------- : Very : : : : Crop : poor : Poor : Fair : Good :Excellent ----------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : All Hay : 3 10 27 50 10 Corn : 4 12 31 41 12 Dry beans : 3 10 30 40 17 Pasture : 5 18 40 34 3 Soybeans : 3 13 31 41 12 ----------------------------------------------------------- Crop progress for week ending 09/20/09 ---------------------------------------------------------------- : This : Last : Last : 5-year Crop : week : week : year :average ---------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : All hay, second cutting : 97 91 100 100 All hay, third cutting : 66 63 76 82 All hay, fourth cutting : 26 17 23 24 Apples, harvested : 22 18 25 27 Corn, dough : 89 81 96 97 Corn, dent : 64 41 87 85 Corn silage, harvested : 14 5 54 62 Dry beans, turning leaves : 84 68 89 97 Dry beans, dropping leaves : 69 37 73 85 Dry beans, harvested : 22 NA 19 36 Peaches, harvested : 92 82 92 95 Potatoes, harvested : 36 32 37 38 Soybeans, turning leaves : 65 27 86 79 Soybeans, dropping leaves : 23 4 54 48 Sugarbeets, harvested : 3 NA 3 2 Winter wheat, planted : 8 3 3 10 ---------------------------------------------------------------- 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 09/20/09 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 43 1,744 1,789 0.11 0.11 1.46 11.38 Marquette : 79 30 1,618 1,693 0.11 0.11 1.46 12.91 Stephenson : 88 36 1,978 2,100 0.00 0.00 0.99 13.16 Western UP : 88 30 5 1,732 1,774 1,849 0.13 0.13 1.50 12.84 18.79 3.58 : Cornell : 77 37 1,815 1,997 0.14 0.14 0.90 12.33 Sault St Marie : 72 43 1,631 1,744 0.00 0.00 1.20 13.21 Eastern UP : 78 37 4 1,618 1,740 1,635 0.19 0.19 1.03 14.26 17.71 3.55 : Beulah : 80 42 2,025 2,274 0.28 0.28 2.05 18.14 Lake City : 84 33 1,933 2,141 0.88 0.88 1.75 18.57 Old Mission : 80 42 1,916 2,174 0.00 0.00 1.24 12.34 Pellston : 79 31 1,802 2,039 0.04 0.04 1.19 12.43 Northwest : 84 31 2 1,871 2,097 2,105 0.22 0.22 1.29 13.41 16.68 3.66 : Alpena : 80 34 1,910 2,130 0.04 0.04 2.41 19.06 Houghton Lake : 82 32 1,942 2,196 1.08 1.08 1.90 17.35 Rogers City : 80 34 1,865 2,102 0.42 0.42 1.33 21.17 Northeast : 83 32 0 1,900 2,130 2,037 0.47 0.47 1.79 18.02 16.67 3.47 : Fremont : 85 40 2,201 2,372 0.00 0.00 0.40 14.94 Hart : 81 41 2,081 2,262 0.05 0.05 1.19 16.87 Muskegon : 83 44 2,391 2,409 0.30 0.30 1.26 14.88 West Central : 85 36 2 2,184 2,315 2,298 0.08 0.08 0.82 16.27 16.91 3.19 : Alma : 84 41 2,235 2,487 0.10 0.10 1.08 19.18 Big Rapids : 84 38 2,079 2,350 0.02 0.02 1.29 20.49 Central : 84 37 1 2,162 2,403 2,371 0.04 0.04 0.94 18.05 17.74 3.09 : Bad Axe : 81 40 2,097 2,393 0.24 0.24 0.72 16.62 Pigeon : 83 36 2,059 2,302 0.00 0.00 0.27 16.65 Saginaw : 85 39 2,303 2,555 0.32 0.33 0.76 16.24 Standish : 85 34 2,050 2,256 0.32 0.32 1.25 15.55 East Central : 85 34 -1 2,087 2,399 2,375 0.23 0.23 0.75 17.06 15.87 2.70 : Fennville : 82 43 2,273 2,414 0.01 0.01 1.97 18.93 Grand Rapids : 84 43 2,521 2,752 0.31 0.35 1.99 21.62 Holland : 81 43 2,621 2,777 0.50 0.76 2.88 31.02 South Bend, IN : 82 42 2,657 2,837 0.00 0.07 1.94 21.73 Watervliet : 82 44 2,457 2,597 0.05 0.12 1.94 18.05 Southwest : 85 37 0 2,472 2,624 2,587 0.10 0.15 1.93 19.49 18.22 3.26 : Belding : 84 38 2,210 2,437 0.00 0.00 0.57 18.44 Coldwater : 85 39 2,525 2,602 0.03 0.17 1.05 17.83 Lansing : 83 42 2,376 2,657 0.17 0.17 2.30 24.45 South Central : 85 38 -1 2,329 2,572 2,541 0.13 0.29 1.56 20.14 18.01 2.79 : Detroit : 85 46 2,708 2,946 0.40 0.95 1.66 19.45 Flint : 82 37 2,327 2,692 0.29 0.29 0.82 22.43 Romeo : 80 41 2,336 2,550 0.18 1.22 2.30 18.21 Tipton : 83 44 2,414 2,644 0.43 1.40 3.08 18.54 Toledo, OH : 81 46 2,711 2,909 0.09 1.75 2.71 18.52 Southeast : 85 34 -1 2,438 2,715 2,540 0.19 0.92 2.11 17.96 17.28 2.43 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.