mi-crop-weather State Michigan Crop Weather Released July 6, 2010 Week Ending Date July 4, 2010 Issue MI-CW2710 Agricultural Summary Finally, Dry Weather Six days were suitable for fieldwork during the week ending July 4, according to the USDA, NASS, Michigan Field Office. Precipitation varied from 0 inches in the central and south Lower Peninsula to 1.34 inches in the western Upper Peninsula. Average temperatures ranged from 3 to 4 degrees below normal for the central and southern Lower Peninsula to 1 degree above normal in the eastern and western Upper Peninsula. With dry conditions for much of the state, producers were able to resume field activities this week. Farmers eagerly put a dent in haying; other activities for the week included weed spraying, side dressing nitrogen, spraying orchards, and preparing for cherry harvest. "Finally a hot dry week to catch up on a lot of hay, and corn is growing like crazy. Some corn is eight feet tall," stated one reporter in the central Lower Peninsula. Another producer in the west central Lower Peninsula reported, "I have never seen corn six feet tall by the fourth of July." Field Crops Report Field Crops A week of dryer conditions provided time for farmers to complete field work and an environment for significant crop growth. Corn started to tassel in southern counties. Fields had inconsistent growth due to ponding from previous weeks. It was a progressive week for alfalfa. A series of warm and dry days made it ideal for harvest. Wheat harvest began in southeastern counties and continued to dry down in the remainder of the state. Oats and barley maintained good progress toward maturity and are beginning to turn. Yield looked to be promising for both crops. Sugarbeets had reports of water damage in a few areas and dry stress in others. Overall, the crop looks terrific with producers looking at a potential record yield. Soybeans maintained decent progress with many weedy fields. Drybean planting finished up during the week and early planted acres are still battling root rot issues. Potatoes finished the week nearly ready for harvest in some areas. Fruit, Vegetable, and Specialty Crops Report Fruit Rainfall amounts have been variable. Some farms in the southeast have had to irrigate tree and small fruits while other farms have received steady amounts of rainfall. Apples ranged from fruit size 39 to 40 mm in the northwest to 2 1/8 inches in the southeast. In the Grand Rapids area, predicted harvest dates were about 2 weeks ahead of the 2009 season. Spotted tentiform leafminer numbers have increased in the northwest. Peaches ranged from fruit size 1.5 inches in the southeast to 2 inches in the southwest. Harvest of early peach varieties will start soon in the southwest and Grand Rapids regions. European plums were 25 mm in the northwest; early plums were beginning to ripen in the southeast. Strawberry harvest continued in the northwest, and renovation has begun in the southeast and southwest regions. Sweet cherries were at 21 to 24 mm diameter in the northwest, and fruit harvest has begun to wrap up at most farms in the southwest and southeast. Brown rot symptoms continued in the southwest and southeast regions. High numbers of oblique-banded leafroller were observed in the northwest. Tart cherries were 20 to 21 mm in the northwest; harvest was underway in the southeast and southwest. Pears ranged from 29 mm diameter in the northwest to 2 inches in diameter in the southwest. Blueberries were at fruit size 13 to 14 mm in the southeast; harvest was underway on early varieties in the southwest. Blueberry maggot fly numbers were increasing in the southeast and southwest. Grapes were in late bloom in the northwest; fruit on primary shoots were at berry touch and pea-sized on secondary shoots in the southwest. Summer raspberries were nearing harvest in the Grand Rapids area, and harvest continued in the southwest and southeast. Vegetables Vegetables benefitted from last week's temperatures and progressed well. Asparagus harvest was complete. In Oceana County, the ferns for next year's crop were developing well and pests were prevalent due to an abundance of moisture. Harvest of cabbage, yellow squash, zucchini and cucumbers continued in the southwest and Grand Rapids area. However, some squash in the Grand Rapids area, on wetter soils, has succumbed to disease. Zucchini, in Oceana County, has showed few flowers and was in second true leaf stage. Harvest of potatoes, green onions, garlic, sweet peas, greens, snap beans under tunnels, and radishes was ongoing. Progression of carrots continued. Alternaria (carrot leaf blight) was first reported this week. Sweet corn progression continued as fields were silking. Damage from insect pests has been minimal thus far. Onions were bulbing and in good condition. Growers continued to transplant celery in the Grand Rapids area. There were reports of foliar disease. Processing broccoli began emerging and showed significant signs of flea beetle feeding. Tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant were growing rapidly. Tomatoes were sizing. Watermelons were developing runners and in bloom. Cantaloupe was nearing harvest in southwest Michigan. Muskmelons were nearing full size. Pumpkins, winter squash and hard squash were vining and stands looked good. Growers finished planting Brussel sprouts, cauliflower and cabbage in the Macomb County area. Parsnips, leeks, radishes, lettuce and red beets looked good in the Grand Rapids area. Soil Moisture and Crop Condition Tables Soil moisture for week ending 07/04/10 --------------------------------------------- : Very : : : Stratum : short : Short :Adequate:Surplus --------------------------------------------- : Percent : Topsoil : 0 20 72 8 Subsoil : 1 11 80 8 --------------------------------------------- Crop condition for week ending 07/04/10 ----------------------------------------------------------- : Very : : : : Crop : poor : Poor : Fair : Good :Excellent ----------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : All Hay : 2 6 22 49 21 Barley : 0 2 36 42 20 Corn : 1 5 18 46 30 Dry beans : 0 16 35 32 17 Oats : 1 1 18 58 22 Pasture : 0 2 19 62 17 Winter Wheat : 1 2 18 62 17 ----------------------------------------------------------- Crop progress for week ending 07/04/10 ------------------------------------------------------------- : This : Last : Last :5-year Crop : week : week : year :average ------------------------------------------------------------- : Inches : Corn, height : 42 30 25 31 : : Percent : All hay, first cutting : 86 69 81 88 All hay, second cutting : 28 10 12 18 Barley, headed : 93 84 NA NA Blueberries, harvested : 15 4 7 4 Dry beans, planted : 100 94 99 100 Dry beans, emerged : 97 80 90 92 Oats, headed : 94 88 81 88 Oats, turning yellow : 25 NA 13 14 Soybeans, emerged : 100 97 100 100 Soybeans, blooming : 26 7 6 9 Strawberries, harvested : 86 69 72 79 Tart cherries, harvested : 15 7 3 16 Winter wheat, turning yellow : 96 80 66 86 ------------------------------------------------------------- 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 07/04/10 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 39 928 712 1.27 3.81 7.33 11.17 Marquette : 88 41 894 599 1.27 3.81 7.33 11.17 Stephenson : 87 41 1,070 807 1.40 4.41 8.81 12.41 Western UP : 90 34 1 934 660 748 1.34 3.71 7.25 11.15 9.75 3.42 : Cornell : 86 40 1,000 730 0.82 3.08 6.57 10.58 Sault St Marie : 88 47 913 600 0.07 1.19 4.39 7.97 Eastern UP : 88 37 1 885 605 599 0.66 2.59 6.41 10.11 9.23 3.19 : Beulah : 89 45 1,082 856 0.11 1.29 3.32 10.48 Lake City : 89 39 1,068 823 0.00 1.14 3.28 11.77 Old Mission : 89 44 1,053 766 0.09 1.32 4.58 10.70 Pellston : 90 40 1,032 733 0.27 1.77 7.16 11.50 Northwest : 90 38 -1 1,025 765 871 0.09 1.23 4.20 10.41 8.78 2.99 : Alpena : 92 45 1,008 769 0.59 1.35 4.74 10.83 Houghton Lake : 88 42 1,132 815 0.22 0.82 2.48 9.34 Rogers City : 91 47 924 776 0.18 1.78 7.12 12.65 Northeast : 92 42 -1 1,052 789 832 0.23 1.30 4.37 10.80 8.71 3.18 : Fremont : 87 45 1,218 952 0.32 1.54 1.96 7.54 Hart : 88 45 1,139 889 0.00 1.17 4.51 9.35 Muskegon : 89 49 1,279 1,007 0.00 1.38 3.72 9.48 West Central : 89 42 -1 1,188 937 973 0.08 1.45 3.58 9.07 9.23 2.54 : Alma : 91 47 1,259 959 0.00 2.61 3.89 14.20 Big Rapids : 91 43 1,170 919 0.00 1.91 2.75 12.91 Central : 91 43 -2 1,215 939 1,030 0.00 1.69 2.70 11.31 9.72 2.97 : Bad Axe : 92 47 1,158 844 0.00 2.63 3.67 12.61 Pigeon : 90 45 1,166 845 0.00 1.96 2.59 9.58 Saginaw : 91 47 1,331 968 0.00 1.47 2.78 10.06 Standish : 90 44 1,128 871 0.00 1.89 3.13 13.01 East Central : 93 44 -3 1,163 883 1,010 0.00 1.82 2.78 11.35 8.71 2.92 : Fennville : 88 46 1,244 1,009 0.00 2.75 4.72 15.73 Grand Rapids : 92 50 1,390 1,118 0.00 0.72 5.95 16.17 Holland : 93 50 1,387 1,174 0.00 1.47 3.74 17.33 South Bend, IN : 91 48 1,426 1,222 0.00 1.76 4.80 14.72 Watervliet : 90 48 1,340 1,097 0.00 1.58 4.19 13.23 Southwest : 95 44 -3 1,344 1,111 1,108 0.00 1.78 4.46 14.46 10.53 3.09 : Belding : 90 42 1,237 962 0.01 1.34 3.53 12.82 Coldwater : 92 46 1,403 1,149 0.00 1.07 2.38 12.85 Lansing : 92 45 1,352 1,028 0.01 0.61 2.11 11.51 South Central : 92 42 -4 1,304 1,045 1,105 0.01 1.03 3.07 13.00 10.35 3.22 : Detroit : 93 51 1,465 1,175 0.00 1.40 2.29 12.66 Flint : 93 44 1,348 1,020 0.00 0.88 1.75 10.64 Romeo : 93 46 1,270 1,001 0.00 0.58 1.35 10.51 Tipton : 91 47 1,337 1,089 0.00 1.47 3.09 15.09 Toledo, OH : 94 49 1,501 1,214 0.00 0.51 1.57 13.69 Southeast : 94 42 -3 1,357 1,110 1,074 0.00 0.92 2.07 12.42 10.00 3.11 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.