mi-crop-weather State Michigan Crop Weather Released May 16, 2011 Week Ending Date May 15, 2011 Issue MI-CW2011 Agricultural Summary "Peek-a Boo" Rain Four days were suitable for fieldwork during the week ending May 15, according to the USDA, NASS, Michigan Field Office. Precipitation ranged from 1.22 inches to 1.54 inches in the Upper Peninsula and 0.95 to 2.26 inches in the Lower Peninsula. Temperatures were 3 degrees above normal in the Upper Peninsula and ranged from 3 to 7 degrees above normal in the Lower Peninsula. It has been a slow start to this year's planting, but producers were finally able to make progress this week in dryer fields. Farmers in the Lower Peninsula took advantage of nice weather early in the week to advance their spring activities; however, rains at the end of the week again stopped progress. Activities included, spreading of manure, planting of various crops and vegetables, and applications of herbicide and nitrogen. Field Crops Report Field Crops Growers in the lower two-thirds of the Lower Peninsula made significant planting progress during the middle of the week until rain fell Friday thru Sunday. Several fields became water logged and had wash outs. After the rains this weekend, "standing water was a common sight," reported a grower in Sanilac County. A grower in Oceana County reported "a lot of corn went in the ground (early) this week and the first emergence was observed." Some farmers used secondary tillage before planting to help fields dry out. Wheat was in Feekes growth stage 7 in southern counties and growers were applying nitrogen when conditions and time allowed. Alfalfa growth increased and weevil feeding began. Soybeans were planted as quickly as possible when conditions allowed. Oats and barley were planted and emergence continued. Sugarbeet planting made significant progress and was nearly complete with some early planted fields being replanted. Weed control in all fields was a growing concern. Fruit, Vegetable, and Specialty Crops Report Fruit Fruit growth advanced rapidly with the advent of warm weather but was still behind normal. Insect activity increased; oriental fruit moth pear psylla, obliquebanded leafroller, and spotted tentiform leafminers were among pests caught or seen in orchards. Apple scab control has been a high priority; apples were at tight cluster to early pink. Tart cherries were in early bloom while sweet cherries were at full bloom to early petal fall. Growers sprayed to prevent brown rot. Grapes were at bud burst. Blueberries ranged from early to late pink. Standing water in fields has made fungicide application difficult. Strawberry flower trusses began emerging, and there was substantial leaf growth. Peaches were at pink to full bloom. Vegetables Warmth this week provided the opportunity for vegetable farmers to get into the field and catch up on planting and other fieldwork. Planting continued at a rapid pace until rain and cool weather again halted fieldwork over the weekend. Asparagus harvest progressed rapidly this week because of the warm weather, but is still behind average. Sweet corn was planted at a brisk pace this past week. Carrots continued to be planted, and for the most part growers have made up for planting delays. Warm season crops planted under tunnels, including tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, and zucchini, were being established and are growing because of the warmth. Radishes, lettuce, and peas are growing well. Onion planting is nearing completion. Celery transplanting continued. Snap beans for processing are still behind schedule. Soil Moisture and Crop Condition Tables Soil moisture for week ending 05/15/11 --------------------------------------------- : Very : : : Stratum : short : Short :Adequate:Surplus --------------------------------------------- : Percent : Topsoil : 0 0 51 49 Subsoil : 0 2 61 37 --------------------------------------------- Crop condition for week ending 05/15/11 ----------------------------------------------------------- : Very : : : : Crop : poor : Poor : Fair : Good :Excellent ----------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : All Hay : 1 5 31 46 17 Oats : 3 4 32 47 14 Pasture : 3 7 27 48 15 Winter Wheat : 1 4 23 54 18 ----------------------------------------------------------- Crop progress for week ending 05/15/11 ---------------------------------------------------------------- : This : Last : Last : 5-year Crop : week : week : year :average ---------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : Asparagus, harvested : 19 4 25 26 Barley, planted : 42 16 89 74 Barley, emerged : 12 2 71 47 Corn, planted : 41 8 80 68 Corn, emerged : 3 0 42 25 Oats, planted : 67 40 98 92 Oats, emerged : 26 10 87 70 Potatoes, planted : 36 NA 62 53 Soybeans, planted : 15 3 36 34 Sugarbeets, planted : 95 45 100 98 ---------------------------------------------------------------- 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 05/15/11 1/ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : :Cumulative growing: : Temperature : degree days 2/ : Precipitation :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : : : : : : : : Normal Station : : :Departure: : : :This:Last :Last : Since :------------- :Maximum :Minimum : from :2011 :2010 :Normal:week: two :four :April 1: Since : For : : : normal : : : : :weeks:weeks: :April 1:month ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ironwood : 75 37 124 209 1.31 1.40 3.11 5.01 Marquette : 73 36 123 194 1.80 1.84 4.15 6.38 Stephenson : 74 38 144 264 1.11 1.14 3.58 5.62 Western UP : 75 36 3 126 214 162 1.54 1.58 3.18 5.11 3.84 3.37 : Cornell : 69 37 114 236 0.69 0.69 2.03 4.15 Sault St Marie : 68 40 115 206 0.75 0.75 3.87 6.28 Eastern UP : 74 34 3 112 207 97 1.22 1.29 3.38 5.78 4.01 3.01 : Beulah : 81 45 182 268 2.17 2.22 5.55 9.28 Lake City : 84 33 188 258 1.69 1.76 5.00 7.92 Old Mission : 79 42 145 269 1.61 1.61 4.20 6.03 Pellston : 76 31 169 253 0.93 0.94 4.29 6.36 Northwest : 84 31 4 162 250 197 1.56 1.58 4.47 6.75 4.01 2.61 : Alpena : 69 32 138 241 1.51 1.55 5.78 8.17 Houghton Lake : 85 34 205 276 1.92 2.00 5.85 8.22 Rogers City : 65 40 98 218 1.00 1.01 3.22 5.61 Northeast : 86 32 3 161 259 183 1.17 1.22 4.90 7.35 3.98 2.76 : Fremont : 83 45 231 307 0.61 0.63 3.92 5.83 Hart : 82 41 199 271 0.76 0.85 3.67 5.08 Muskegon : 83 47 243 303 0.90 0.90 4.55 6.19 West Central : 86 33 7 218 288 234 0.95 0.98 4.21 5.87 4.42 2.67 : Alma : 83 39 210 306 1.35 1.36 5.50 7.10 Big Rapids : 85 37 215 297 1.22 1.25 7.02 9.97 Central : 87 37 6 220 303 259 1.51 1.53 5.45 7.20 4.51 2.79 : Bad Axe : 80 38 188 293 1.19 1.36 5.77 8.41 Pigeon : 82 38 195 294 0.49 0.58 4.32 6.44 Saginaw : 84 42 241 332 1.50 1.53 5.96 7.90 Standish : 79 35 184 298 0.59 0.66 5.53 7.79 East Central : 84 35 3 191 301 245 1.61 1.69 5.96 8.03 3.88 2.63 : Fennville : 86 39 246 338 1.30 1.34 5.42 6.84 Grand Rapids : 85 44 283 373 1.88 1.90 7.60 9.18 Holland : 87 46 307 374 2.80 2.85 7.15 8.67 South Bend, IN : 87 49 310 399 3.36 3.76 8.54 11.21 Watervliet : 87 42 268 366 1.86 2.01 6.42 8.10 Southwest : 89 35 7 272 368 286 1.98 2.11 6.55 8.20 4.86 3.01 : Belding : 86 36 234 318 1.73 1.74 7.14 8.45 Coldwater : 88 40 281 389 1.59 1.92 5.05 6.86 Lansing : 85 41 254 364 3.03 3.05 7.33 8.65 South Central : 88 36 6 251 354 285 2.26 2.36 6.52 8.09 4.68 2.92 : Detroit : 83 44 286 404 0.89 0.99 5.24 7.25 Flint : 85 38 272 357 2.49 2.61 6.65 8.30 Romeo : 78 40 215 323 3.77 3.89 6.99 8.59 Tipton : 87 41 272 374 1.05 1.31 5.83 7.86 Toledo, OH : 84 41 258 429 1.78 1.90 5.49 7.05 Southeast : 90 35 5 260 381 268 1.89 1.92 5.73 7.33 4.61 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.