mi-crop-weather State Michigan Crop Weather Released July 19, 2010 Week Ending Date July 18, 2010 Issue MI-CW2910 Agricultural Summary Warm with Scattered Precipitation Five days were suitable for fieldwork during the week ending July 18, according to the USDA, NASS, Michigan Field Office. Precipitation varied from 0.41 inches in the south central Lower Peninsula to 1.60 inches in the east central Lower Peninsula. Above average temperatures ranged from 1 degree above normal for the western Upper Peninsula to 5 degrees above normal in the west central Lower Peninsula. Crop progress varied across the state. "It was another good week with warm temperatures and humid air, and corn greatly benefited from the weather," stated one producer in the west central Lower Peninsula. Another producer in the central Lower Peninsula reported that the corn was beyond excellent. While corn looked good in the central Lower Peninsula, growers in the north western Lower Peninsula would have liked to see more rain. A reporter in the region stated, "Starting to get dry, and corn is starting to roll up and show some stress." Third cutting of alfalfa will start in some areas by the end of the week if weather permits. Outside of harvesting crops and fruits, field activities included some spraying, post emerge herbicide application, and tillage. Field Crops Report Field Crops Humid and hot weather was the biggest factor for field crops during the week. Precipitation was very spotty around the state causing soil moisture levels to be inconsistent. Alfalfa harvest was slowed mostly by weather. Most of the quality was good to excellent. Some were completing first cutting while majority were working on second cuttings. A great deal of wheat was harvested. Scattered showers were responsible for hindering further harvest. Corn continued to take advantage of ideal growing conditions. Progress was well ahead of normal. Reporters used words such as "exceptional" and "excellent" when describing the crop. Farmers worked on oat harvest when they had a chance. Sugarbeets continued to look outstanding. According to one reporter, "sugarbeet growers are contemplating an early start up to harvest". Growers have been very excited about this year's crop. Drybeans showed damage from drown spots in low lying areas. The remainder of the crop continued on pace for a decent year Soybeans made steady to slow progress toward maturity. "Late planted or replanted crops are having a hard time of it, but we will have to wait and see what the weather brings", says one reporter. Fruit, Vegetable, and Specialty Crops Report Fruit Growing degree days continued ahead of normal with the hot weather across the state. Apples ranged from 42 to 53 mm in the northwest, and fruit size was about 2.5 to 3 inches in the southwest and were sizing well. Green apple aphid numbers were building in the southwest. Peaches ranged from 1.75 to over 2 inches in the southwest and southeast areas. Split pit continued to be a problem in the southeast. European plums were about 29 mm in the northwest and remained at about 1 inch in length and 1.5 in width in the southeast. Strawberries were being renovated in the Grand Rapids area, and renovation was completed at most farms in the southeast. Growth in non-irrigated fields has been stunted in the southwest. Harvest of sweet cherries ended in the northwest. Leaf drop continued across the southeast as a result of cherry leaf spot infections. Harvest in the west central ended early due to high humidity and heat. Tart cherry harvest continued in the west central and was about half done in the northwest. Harvest has ended in the southwest, southeast, and Grand Rapids areas. Pears ranged from 1.75 to 2 inches in diameter in the southwest and southeast areas. Harvest of early varieties of blueberries began in the southeast; harvest continued in the southwest and Grand Rapids areas. Grapes were at berry touch in the southeast and northwest areas; fruit clusters on primary shoots were closed, and fruit was at berry touch on secondary shoots in the southwest. Summer raspberry harvest continued in the northwest, southwest, and southeast areas. Vegetables Warm and humid days last week aided vegetable development and harvest, but heightened concern of additional diseases and pest activity. Harvest of cabbage, yellow squash, zucchini, for both fresh and processing, cucumbers for pickles, potatoes, garlic, and snap beans was ongoing. Cabbage and other Cole crops were under pressure from diamond-back moths. Carrots and parsnips continued to progress and looked good. Sweet corn harvest was underway in some areas. Growers were cautioned to be aware of European corn borer. Onions and leeks were developing and sizing well, except on wetter soils. In the Grand Rapids area, celery transplanting and harvest of other celery fields continued. Tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants looked good and harvest of some fields was underway. Specialty peppers were harvested and available in limited quantities in the Macomb County area. Watermelons were progressing well. Muskmelons were full size and netting. Pumpkins and hard squash had fruit and were sizing. Romaine lettuce harvest was underway in Macomb County. Soil Moisture and Crop Condition Tables Soil moisture for week ending 07/18/10 --------------------------------------------- : Very : : : Stratum : short : Short :Adequate:Surplus --------------------------------------------- : Percent : Topsoil : 6 22 65 7 Subsoil : 3 21 72 4 --------------------------------------------- Crop condition for week ending 07/18/10 ----------------------------------------------------------- : Very : : : : Crop : poor : Poor : Fair : Good :Excellent ----------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : All Hay : 1 6 18 51 24 Barley : 0 7 18 60 15 Corn : 1 5 14 49 31 Dry beans : 3 11 28 41 17 Oats : 0 5 19 54 22 Pasture : 0 7 21 53 19 Soybeans : 1 5 23 48 23 Winter Wheat : 1 5 20 52 22 ----------------------------------------------------------- Crop progress for week ending 07/18/10 ------------------------------------------------------------- : This : Last : Last :5-year Crop : week : week : year :average ------------------------------------------------------------- : Inches : Corn, height : 67 60 46 56 : : Percent : All hay, first cutting : 93 91 100 100 All hay, second cutting : 50 40 50 54 Barley, headed : 97 96 78 16 Blueberries, harvested : 32 18 41 24 Corn, silked : 65 30 4 27 Corn, dough : 4 0 0 0 Dry beans, blooming : 47 9 6 16 Dry beans, setting pods : 9 NA NA 2 Oats, turning yellow : 83 52 40 59 Oats, harvested : 9 6 3 4 Peaches, harvested : 14 NA 6 3 Soybeans, blooming : 61 40 25 49 Soybeans, setting pods : 18 10 2 11 Strawberries, harvested : 100 98 91 97 Tart cherries, harvested : 88 46 16 43 Winter wheat, harvested : 84 43 11 40 ------------------------------------------------------------- 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 07/18/10 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 : 83 49 1,181 860 0.94 2.59 5.96 12.79 Marquette : 84 48 1,144 749 0.94 2.59 5.96 12.79 Stephenson : 87 51 1,355 1,002 0.84 2.67 6.82 14.26 Western UP : 87 45 1 1,188 814 962 0.96 2.85 5.99 12.98 11.15 3.42 : Cornell : 85 51 1,268 907 0.95 3.05 7.03 13.76 Sault St Marie : 84 55 1,178 734 0.48 0.77 2.08 8.69 Eastern UP : 86 48 3 1,141 752 794 0.65 2.90 5.56 12.64 10.29 3.19 : Beulah : 88 57 1,397 1,039 1.03 1.55 3.04 11.93 Lake City : 86 51 1,365 993 1.95 2.87 4.04 14.64 Old Mission : 88 52 1,344 941 0.12 0.29 1.52 10.90 Pellston : 87 48 1,308 892 0.17 0.78 4.52 12.22 Northwest : 88 48 3 1,316 933 1,102 0.63 1.06 2.66 11.43 10.06 2.99 : Alpena : 87 54 1,289 945 0.25 1.39 2.42 11.63 Houghton Lake : 85 52 1,432 985 0.29 2.03 2.67 11.15 Rogers City : 86 57 1,202 946 0.09 0.89 3.96 13.38 Northeast : 87 52 2 1,339 958 1,060 0.78 2.32 3.88 12.90 9.85 3.18 : Fremont : 86 60 1,541 1,143 0.90 1.32 2.71 8.71 Hart : 86 62 1,457 1,075 1.30 2.22 3.39 11.57 Muskegon : 86 66 1,637 1,225 1.09 1.50 4.17 10.98 West Central : 87 56 5 1,519 1,133 1,219 1.14 1.65 3.37 10.68 10.26 2.54 : Alma : 87 63 1,589 1,154 0.76 1.93 4.93 16.13 Big Rapids : 87 58 1,488 1,101 0.49 1.10 3.14 14.01 Central : 87 58 4 1,536 1,126 1,280 0.48 1.27 3.12 12.58 10.97 2.97 : Bad Axe : 89 61 1,485 1,037 2.70 2.81 5.61 15.42 Pigeon : 91 56 1,470 1,035 2.34 2.38 4.34 11.96 Saginaw : 89 63 1,671 1,172 0.29 1.11 3.10 11.17 Standish : 88 57 1,433 1,053 2.26 2.61 4.68 15.62 East Central : 91 56 3 1,483 1,074 1,264 1.60 1.95 3.96 13.30 9.99 2.92 : Fennville : 88 63 1,566 1,209 1.11 2.50 5.25 18.23 Grand Rapids : 89 66 1,744 1,339 0.43 1.96 3.59 18.13 Holland : 89 65 1,742 1,414 2.34 5.50 7.73 22.83 South Bend, IN : 93 64 1,768 1,474 0.35 0.86 3.32 15.58 Watervliet : 89 65 1,680 1,314 0.63 1.23 3.09 14.46 Southwest : 93 59 4 1,680 1,331 1,378 0.81 1.73 3.98 16.27 11.74 3.09 : Belding : 86 61 1,553 1,149 0.28 1.08 2.42 13.90 Coldwater : 92 61 1,733 1,381 0.02 0.47 1.54 13.32 Lansing : 92 62 1,696 1,242 0.05 0.51 2.08 12.02 South Central : 94 60 3 1,632 1,250 1,371 0.41 1.58 3.04 14.58 11.49 3.22 : Detroit : 92 65 1,822 1,425 1.17 1.73 3.46 14.39 Flint : 91 60 1,687 1,224 0.78 2.20 3.50 12.84 Romeo : 92 61 1,601 1,214 1.23 1.73 2.64 12.24 Tipton : 91 62 1,664 1,310 0.08 0.60 2.36 15.69 Toledo, OH : 94 64 1,844 1,462 0.18 0.72 1.51 14.41 Southeast : 96 58 4 1,691 1,338 1,342 0.89 1.74 3.11 14.95 11.25 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.