mi-crop-weather State Michigan Crop Weather Released September 28, 2009 Week Ending Date September 27, 2009 Issue MI-CW3909 Agricultural Summary Much Needed Rainfall Six days were suitable for fieldwork during the week ending September 27, according to the USDA, NASS, Michigan Field Office. Precipitation varied from 0.35 inch in the southeast Lower Peninsula to 1.46 inches in the northeast Lower Peninsula. Average temperatures ranged from 5 degrees above normal in the southwest Lower Peninsula to 8 degrees above normal in the western Upper Peninsula. Weather conditions were ideal for crop development; warm temperatures and precipitation pushed row crops closer to maturity. Timely rains also helped to improve soil moisture and soften the ground. Growers continued to hope for a late frost, to allow crops to fully mature. Field Crops Report Field Crops Mild temperatures and light precipitation have continued the advancement of crops. The lack of significant moisture has made harvest and planting difficult for some farmers and better for others. A slight frost last week did not severely impact crops. Wheat planting continued. It was stated that wheat planting may not begin until late October, depending on how quickly soybean harvest progresses. Oats, in the Upper Peninsula, were being combined. A reporter in the southeast stated, "The light frost of last weekend scorched corn and soybeans in a few low pockets, but no widespread damage was done." In the south central, stalks of corn had begun to dry down from the bottom. It was noted that this should help ears. Corn for silage harvest was underway and was nearing completion in some areas. Soybeans were drying down. Some fields have been combined, primarily for test weights. Alfalfa harvest continued. Sugarbeet harvest was underway. Difficulty in harvesting the crop continued. Some beets were busting and or snapping instead of "lifting" easily from the soil. However, harvest should become easier with expected moisture. Dry bean harvest was well underway. The precipitation received last week provided the crop with much needed moisture. Fruit, Vegetable, and Specialty Crops Report Fruit In the southwest, harvest of McIntosh, Jonathan, Jonagold, and Empire apple varieties were winding down and picking of Golden delicious apples increased; fruit size and quality were good. In the east, growers were picking Gala and Cortland apple varieties; harvest of McIntosh varieties was completed. Apple varieties were not ripening in their typical order. Peach harvest wrapped up. Pear and Plum harvest were completed. Niagara grape harvest began in the southwest; the Concord harvest is expected to begin next week. Vegetables Tomatoes were still being harvested on many commercial farms and home gardens. Late blight had a negative impact on some organic tomatoes and in fields where growers did not implement a pre-planned program of fungicide applications. Pepper harvest continued with most growers reporting good yields and quality. Winter squash and pumpkins were also being harvested; growers in the southeast reported that some fields still required more development time. Cantaloup and watermelon harvests were winding down; disease problems have reduced yields in several areas. Sweet corn harvest was also winding down across the State. Growers have reported generally good yields, but noted that some fields will not ripen due to the cool summer conditions. In the southeast, potato harvest continued with above average yields observed on many fields. In the southwest, eggplant harvest continued, with many fields showing excellent fruit development. In the Grand Rapids area, celery harvest was 75 percent complete with varying yields depending upon rain accumulation in August. Onion harvest was about two- thirds complete, with many reporting good quality and size except where downy mildew problems were severe. Carrots were about 50 percent harvested with good yields reported so far. Lettuce and bokchoy harvest were nearly complete with positive reports. Harvest of cole crops, including radishes, cabbage, cauliflower, and broccoli, were winding down, with yields and quality at average or better. Soil Moisture and Crop Condition Tables Soil moisture for week ending 09/27/09 --------------------------------------------- : Very : : : Stratum : short : Short :Adequate:Surplus --------------------------------------------- : Percent : Topsoil : 12 29 57 2 Subsoil : 11 35 53 1 --------------------------------------------- Crop condition for week ending 09/27/09 ----------------------------------------------------------- : Very : : : : Crop : poor : Poor : Fair : Good :Excellent ----------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : All Hay : 3 8 31 47 11 Corn : 4 13 27 44 12 Dry beans : 6 11 41 34 8 Pasture : 6 15 44 30 5 Soybeans : 3 12 31 45 9 ----------------------------------------------------------- Crop progress for week ending 09/27/09 ---------------------------------------------------------------- : This : Last : Last : 5-year Crop : week : week : year :average ---------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : All hay, third cutting : 81 66 80 86 All hay, fourth cutting : 33 26 25 30 Apples, harvested : 30 22 35 39 Corn, dough : 96 89 100 99 Corn, dent : 80 64 95 93 Corn, mature : 19 10 55 63 Corn silage, harvested : 38 14 72 79 Dry beans, turning leaves : 99 84 99 100 Dry beans, dropping leaves : 78 69 80 95 Dry beans, harvested : 42 22 29 57 Peaches, harvested : 98 92 98 98 Potatoes, harvested : 38 36 43 46 Soybeans, turning leaves : 83 65 96 91 Soybeans, dropping leaves : 53 23 77 69 Sugarbeets, harvested : 8 3 6 5 Winter wheat, planted : 20 8 12 22 ---------------------------------------------------------------- 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 09/27/09 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 : 73 39 1,831 1,893 0.77 0.88 0.88 12.15 Marquette : 73 39 1,696 1,788 0.77 0.88 0.88 13.68 Stephenson : 78 44 2,065 2,191 1.16 1.16 1.16 14.32 Western UP : 78 33 8 1,813 1,863 1,891 0.78 0.91 0.91 13.56 19.69 3.58 : Cornell : 71 45 1,891 2,083 0.60 0.74 0.76 12.93 Sault St Marie : 71 43 1,701 1,819 0.35 0.35 0.41 13.56 Eastern UP : 75 38 7 1,691 1,820 1,674 0.46 0.66 0.68 14.73 18.63 3.55 : Beulah : 74 50 2,112 2,388 1.00 1.28 1.28 19.14 Lake City : 74 42 2,009 2,233 1.72 2.60 2.60 20.29 Old Mission : 74 46 1,999 2,277 0.59 0.59 0.59 12.93 Pellston : 73 37 1,879 2,128 0.65 0.69 0.69 13.07 Northwest : 76 37 6 1,952 2,195 2,162 0.93 1.16 1.19 14.35 17.66 3.66 : Alpena : 75 45 1,987 2,217 2.28 2.32 2.32 21.34 Houghton Lake : 73 38 2,024 2,287 1.05 2.13 2.13 18.40 Rogers City : 74 44 1,945 2,184 1.33 1.75 1.75 22.50 Northeast : 76 38 6 1,980 2,217 2,090 1.46 1.93 1.93 19.47 17.60 3.47 : Fremont : 77 47 2,293 2,474 2.47 2.47 2.47 17.41 Hart : 75 51 2,163 2,370 0.92 0.97 0.97 17.79 Muskegon : 78 54 2,502 2,524 1.67 1.97 1.97 16.55 West Central : 78 36 6 2,275 2,421 2,363 1.26 1.59 1.59 17.78 17.77 3.19 : Alma : 79 40 2,326 2,586 0.71 0.81 0.81 19.89 Big Rapids : 78 38 2,177 2,451 0.40 0.42 0.42 20.70 Central : 79 38 6 2,254 2,503 2,438 0.66 0.70 0.70 18.66 18.57 3.09 : Bad Axe : 79 49 2,202 2,488 0.82 1.06 1.06 17.44 Pigeon : 78 46 2,167 2,392 0.52 0.52 0.52 17.17 Saginaw : 80 48 2,411 2,660 0.61 0.93 0.94 16.85 Standish : 80 44 2,145 2,345 1.29 1.61 1.61 16.89 East Central : 80 44 6 2,190 2,494 2,447 0.73 0.96 0.96 17.79 16.59 2.70 : Fennville : 80 49 2,369 2,530 0.43 0.44 0.44 19.36 Grand Rapids : 79 52 2,630 2,869 0.64 0.95 0.99 22.26 Holland : 79 49 2,719 2,898 0.74 1.28 1.54 31.80 South Bend, IN : 81 52 2,774 2,966 0.33 0.33 0.40 22.06 Watervliet : 80 50 2,561 2,718 0.62 0.67 0.74 18.67 Southwest : 82 38 5 2,575 2,743 2,667 0.72 0.81 0.87 20.21 19.15 3.26 : Belding : 78 52 2,303 2,544 0.45 0.45 0.45 18.89 Coldwater : 85 51 2,643 2,720 0.21 0.24 0.38 18.04 Lansing : 80 50 2,479 2,761 0.37 0.54 0.54 24.82 South Central : 85 41 6 2,429 2,679 2,619 0.45 0.59 0.74 20.59 18.81 2.79 : Detroit : 80 55 2,842 3,058 0.25 0.65 1.20 19.70 Flint : 80 47 2,436 2,788 0.67 0.96 0.96 23.10 Romeo : 79 51 2,444 2,648 0.19 0.92 1.99 18.95 Tipton : 82 53 2,535 2,753 0.43 0.86 1.86 18.97 Toledo, OH : 81 56 2,846 3,020 0.55 1.07 3.02 19.50 Southeast : 84 41 7 2,554 2,820 2,619 0.35 0.64 1.40 18.41 17.86 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.