mi-crop-weather State Michigan Crop Weather Released June 1, 2010 Week Ending Date May 30, 2010 Issue MI-CW2210 Agricultural Summary Hot and Dry Six days were suitable for fieldwork during the week ending May 30, according to the USDA, NASS, Michigan Field Office. Precipitation varied from 0.03 inches in the west central Lower Peninsula to 1.06 inches in the east central Lower Peninsula. Average temperatures ranged from 10 degree above normal in the southwest Lower Peninsula to 13 degrees above normal in the northeast Lower Peninsula. Planting and growing conditions were good this week. Above average temperatures put most farm activities ahead of schedule. "What a great week to be a farmer! The crops loved the heat; you could almost see and hear the corn grow," stated one reporter from central Michigan. Bright sunshine with light winds helped growers catch up on spraying. A grower in northwest region reported, "It has been hot and dry. The corn looks good because we had hot weather to germinate it. Now we need an inch or two of rain." Field Crops Report Field Crops Above average temperatures across much of the state aided crop development. Wheat quickly headed out. Wheat was in Feekes growing stages 8 to 10 with some fields starting to flower. There were also some reports of powdery mildew in the lower canopy and of leaf rust. Oat and barley stands were in good shape, and herbicide applications were being made. Most oats were in Feekes growing stage 7. Corn was in growth stages ranging from V2 to V4 and had greened up nicely. Some fields have been and will be replanted due to ponding. Nitrogen side-dressing and weed spraying occurred. Soybean planting continued where soil condition allowed. Advanced fields were in growth stage V2. In the Thumb, bean leaf beetles were present but at low levels. First cuttings of alfalfa continued as conditions permitted. Dairy farmers were harvesting alfalfa for green chop. There were reports of potato leafhoppers in the southeast. Sugarbeet development continued, but stands were uneven. At this time, moisture is not a major factor but will become one as the crop advances. Drybean planting continued. Fruit, Vegetable, and Specialty Crops Report Fruit Growing degree days were about 8 to 10 days ahead of normal around the state. Apples ranged from fruit size 6 to 8 mm in the northwest to 20 to 24 mm in diameter in the southeast. The rains last week increased the potential for apple scab infection. Codling moth emerged in high numbers. The variable crop has been making thinning decisions difficult. Peaches ranged from fruit size 12 to 14 mm in the west central and southeast to 14 to 18 mm in diameter in the southwest. European plums were at 7 mm in the northwest, and fruit was 12 to 16 mm in diameter in the southeast and southwest. Strawberries ranged from full bloom in the northwest to thimble-sized fruit and thumb-sized fruit in the southeast and southwest; the largest fruit were three-quarters of an inch long in the southwest. Sweet cherries were at fruit size 11 to 12 mm in diameter in the northwest; fruit size was 14 mm in diameter and pits were hard in the southwest. Tart cherries ranged from fruit size 10 to 11 mm fruit in the northwest and west central to 11 to 14 mm in diameter in the southeast. Pears were at 10 mm in diameter in the northwest and 16 to 18 mm in diameter in the southwest. Pears were generally scarce throughout the state. Blueberries were at petal fall and beginning the green fruit stage in the southeast and Grand Rapids area. Bloom was ending with most varieties having small green fruit in the southwest. Grapes had 1 to 3 inch shoots in the northwest; shoots were 9 to 15 inches long with flowers beginning to separate in the southwest. Summer raspberries were in full bloom. Vegetables Above average temperatures aided vegetable growth last week. Onions and carrots were progressing well, and only onions that were hit by frost in early May were showing signs of stress. In the Grand Rapids area, celery was growing rapidly and transplanting continued. Processing winter squash planting continued. Radishes, parsnips, turnips, and red beets looked healthy. Cabbage was progressing well and transplanting continued. There were no significant reports of insect or disease problems. Asparagus harvest continued with growers picking daily. There were reports of asparagus beetles in the southwest. In the southwest, tomatoes, zucchini, yellow squash, and cucumbers were growing in the open, as protective covers have been removed. Tomatoes were staked and tied. Zucchini and yellow squash were flowering. Peppers, tomatoes, and other vine crops were getting established under plastic in the Grand Rapids area. Tomatoes and peppers were transplanted in the southeast. In the Thumb, cucumber for pickle planting continued. Emerged fields were being monitored. Sweet corn, peppers, eggplant, watermelon, and cantaloup planting continued. Early-planted sweet corn was about a foot tall, with improved color. Later planted fields were emerging. Peas had one inch pods and were about a foot tall. Pumpkin fields were being prepared. Cole crops were forming heads in the southeast. Soil Moisture and Crop Condition Tables Soil moisture for week ending 05/30/10 --------------------------------------------- : Very : : : Stratum : short : Short :Adequate:Surplus --------------------------------------------- : Percent : Topsoil : 4 15 65 16 Subsoil : 1 13 72 14 --------------------------------------------- Crop condition for week ending 05/30/10 ----------------------------------------------------------- : Very : : : : Crop : poor : Poor : Fair : Good :Excellent ----------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : All Hay : 1 6 20 54 19 Barley : 1 1 41 51 6 Corn : 0 6 26 51 17 Oats : 0 2 27 56 15 Pasture : 2 4 27 43 24 Winter Wheat : 1 2 16 62 19 ----------------------------------------------------------- Crop progress for week ending 05/30/10 ---------------------------------------------------------------- : This : Last : Last : 5-year Crop : week : week : year :average ---------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : All hay, first cutting : 32 10 12 18 Asparagus, harvested : 69 NA 42 53 Barley, planted : 99 98 95 96 Barley, emerged : 94 92 83 82 Corn, planted : 93 85 89 94 Corn, emerged : 80 63 55 69 Dry beans, planted : 23 2 5 7 Oats, emerged : 100 95 78 92 Oats, headed : 5 0 1 5 Potatoes, planted : 93 79 87 85 Potatoes, emerged : 68 27 46 44 Soybeans, planted : 73 50 59 77 Soybeans, emerged : 45 22 23 38 Strawberries, harvested : 6 NA NA 1 Winter wheat, headed : 65 8 22 33 ---------------------------------------------------------------- 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 05/30/10 1/ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : :Cumulative growing: : Temperature : degree days 2/ : Precipitation :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : : : : : : : : Normal Station : : :Departure: : : :This:Last :Last : Since :------------- :Maximum :Minimum : from :2010 :2009 :Normal:week: two :four :April 1: Since : For : : : normal : : : : :weeks:weeks: :April 1:month ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ironwood : 87 46 466 299 0.43 0.46 1.99 3.10 Marquette : 90 48 445 222 0.43 0.46 1.99 3.10 Stephenson : 90 43 530 334 0.70 0.71 2.07 2.88 Western UP : 90 38 11 468 265 302 0.45 0.47 1.89 3.05 5.65 3.37 : Cornell : 85 48 458 281 0.48 0.49 1.67 2.10 Sault St Marie : 86 49 467 211 0.11 0.11 1.05 2.26 Eastern UP : 88 47 12 437 218 209 0.35 0.35 1.48 2.43 5.44 3.01 : Beulah : 88 52 550 362 0.02 0.04 2.23 6.32 Lake City : 87 51 522 363 0.26 0.62 2.20 6.36 Old Mission : 92 48 524 306 0.30 0.52 2.41 5.49 Pellston : 89 49 527 296 0.00 0.02 1.58 2.76 Northwest : 92 48 12 511 317 361 0.12 0.28 2.11 5.08 5.30 2.61 : Alpena : 89 51 501 333 0.00 0.33 2.44 4.83 Houghton Lake : 87 50 552 358 0.25 0.56 1.84 4.26 Rogers City : 90 51 470 332 0.18 0.25 2.39 4.73 Northeast : 90 50 13 530 343 336 0.25 0.55 2.16 4.58 5.28 2.76 : Fremont : 91 55 601 414 0.00 0.26 2.07 4.66 Hart : 88 52 555 385 0.06 0.34 1.58 4.30 Muskegon : 87 62 606 430 0.00 0.26 2.20 4.96 West Central : 91 49 12 577 412 413 0.03 0.38 2.01 4.77 5.83 2.67 : Alma : 89 57 617 410 1.17 1.92 4.39 8.65 Big Rapids : 91 54 567 420 0.38 0.84 4.18 7.53 Central : 91 54 13 590 412 449 0.83 1.25 3.77 6.97 5.86 2.79 : Bad Axe : 89 54 574 384 2.13 2.18 4.59 6.26 Pigeon : 90 55 584 372 0.53 0.92 3.14 5.17 Saginaw : 89 60 641 420 0.47 0.75 3.11 5.57 Standish : 89 52 559 386 2.14 2.57 4.56 7.70 East Central : 90 52 12 562 389 430 1.06 1.33 3.81 6.51 5.18 2.63 : Fennville : 90 54 616 455 0.58 1.25 4.05 6.86 Grand Rapids : 90 58 680 505 0.40 0.92 3.77 8.10 Holland : 90 58 686 506 1.26 1.86 6.50 9.76 South Bend, IN : 89 54 688 555 1.13 2.19 5.58 9.13 Watervliet : 89 56 658 501 0.72 1.37 4.06 7.22 Southwest : 91 52 10 660 508 485 0.71 1.33 4.05 7.23 6.42 3.01 : Belding : 93 53 602 422 1.62 2.00 4.19 8.03 Coldwater : 91 59 678 534 2.13 3.95 6.21 9.54 Lansing : 88 57 656 461 0.08 0.72 3.91 6.93 South Central : 93 52 11 635 481 485 0.70 1.54 4.45 7.67 6.11 2.92 : Detroit : 88 60 704 548 0.43 1.09 4.02 7.25 Flint : 88 56 647 473 0.06 0.61 3.54 7.52 Romeo : 89 50 608 462 0.84 0.85 3.58 8.29 Tipton : 88 56 647 519 0.67 2.85 6.42 10.26 Toledo, OH : 90 58 725 572 2.44 3.16 5.18 10.96 Southeast : 91 50 11 652 518 461 0.65 1.91 5.01 8.81 6.06 2.85 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Issued by the USDA, NASS, Michigan Field Office in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Commerce, Michigan State University 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.