Table 6.1 Field crops: Area, production, and value, Michigan
Item and unit Year Area Production Price received 1 Value of production
Planted Harvested Per acre Total
1,000
acres
1,000
acres
1,000 Dollars 1,000 dollars
Barley, bushels
1993 30 28 54 1,512 1.90 2,873
1994 35 32 51 1,632 1.75 2,856
1995 25 23 50 1,150 2.65 3,048
1996 28 25 48 1,200 2.40 2,880
1997 26 24 60 1,440 1.90 2,736
Beans, dry, cwt. 2
1993 390 380 1,600 6,080 20.30 123,424
1994 390 360 1,300 4,680 27.10 126,828
1995 390 385 1,800 6,930 19.40 134,442
1996 340 320 1,450 4,640 21.70 100,688
1997 315 305 1,650 5,033 20.80 104,686
Corn, all, bushels
1993 2,400 -- -- -- -- --
1994 2,550 -- -- -- -- --
1995 2,450 -- -- -- -- --
1996 2,650 -- -- -- -- --
1997 2,600 -- -- -- -- --
Corn, for grain, bushels
1993 -- 2,050 110 225,500 2.46 554,730
1994 -- 2,230 117 260,910 2.23 581,829
1995 -- 2,170 115 249,550 3.20 798,560
1996 -- 2,300 94 216,200 2.66 575,092
1997 -- 2,250 117 263,250 2.55 671,288
Corn, for silage, tons
1993 -- 330 12.0 3,960 -- --
1994 -- 300 14.0 4,200 -- --
1995 -- 260 15.0 3,900 -- --
1996 -- 310 12.5 3,875 -- --
1997 -- 320 14.5 4,640 -- --
Hay, all, tons
1993 -- 1,400 3.84 5,370 68.00 364,275
1994 -- 1,400 3.48 4,865 70.50 340,533
1995 -- 1,350 3.72 5,025 66.00 331,995
1996 -- 1,300 3.22 4,190 106.00 442,895
1997 -- 1,250 3.01 3,760 102.00 378,530
Hay, alfalfa, tons
1993 -- 1,100 4.20 4,620 70.00 323,400
1994 -- 1,050 3.90 4,095 71.50 292,793
1995 -- 1,050 4.10 4,305 67.00 288,435
1996 -- 950 3.60 3,420 108.00 369,360
1997 -- 900 3.40 3,060 103.00 315,180
Hay, alfalfa, seedings
1997 160 -- -- -- -- --
Hay, other, tons
1993 -- 300 2.50 750 54.50 40,875
1994 -- 350 2.20 770 62.00 47,740
1995 -- 300 2.40 720 60.50 43,560
1996 -- 350 2.20 770 95.50 73,535
1997 -- 350 2.00 700 90.50 63,535
See footnotes at end of table.

Table 6.1 Field crops: Area, production, and value, Michigan (continued)
Item and unit Year Area Production Price received 1 Value of production
Planted Harvested Per acre Total
1,000
acres
1,000
acres
1,000 Dollars 1,000 dollars
Oats, bushels
1993 150 130 55 7,150 1.57 11,226
1994 140 110 57 6,270 1.44 9,029
1995 110 90 57 5,130 1.90 9,747
1996 70 60 60 3,600 2.41 8,676
1997 100 90 61 5,490 1.85 10,157
Potatoes, cwt.
1993 53.0 50.5 303 15,280 7.20 110,191
1994 54.0 52.0 270 14,040 6.70 93,893
1995 55.0 54.5 300 16,350 6.90 112,815
1996 52.0 46.0 300 13,800 5.80 80,040
1997 48.0 47.5 300 14,250 6.60 94,050
Rye, bushels
1993 80 15 28 420 2.21 928
1994 90 17 26 442 2.30 1,017
1995 90 16 34 544 2.40 1,306
1996 80 13 27 351 3.20 1,123
1997 80 16 26 416 2.90 1,206
Soybeans, bushels
1993 1,450 1,440 38.0 54,720 6.32 345,830
1994 1,550 1,540 37.0 56,980 5.43 309,401
1995 1,500 1,490 40.0 59,600 6.52 388,592
1996 1,650 1,640 28.5 46,740 7.15 334,191
1997 1,900 1,890 38.5 72,765 6.55 476,611
Spearmint for oil, pounds
1993 -- 2.8 32 90 14.00 1,260
1994 -- 2.7 29 78 11.50 897
1995 -- 2.2 42 92 11.50 1,058
1996 -- 1.3 21 27 12.20 329
1997 -- 1.5 34 51 11.00 561
Sugarbeets, tons
1993 189 187 17.0 3,179 35.80 113,808
1994 195 187 16.2 3,029 37.60 113,890
1995 190 188 15.8 2,970 33.80 100,386
1996 153 130 15.1 1,963 41.60 81,661
1997 163 160 19.0 3,040 (3) (3)
Wheat, winter, bushels
1993 580 540 41 22,140 3.04 67,306
1994 600 580 53 30,740 3.25 99,905
1995 630 620 60 37,200 4.10 152,520
1996 700 630 38 23,940 3.91 93,605
1997 550 540 62 33,480 3.30 110,484
1 Marketing year average.
2 Yield per acre in pounds.
3 Not available at publication time.

Beans, dry

Michigan's 1997 total dry bean production was 5,033,000 hundredweight (cwt.) which represented 17 percent of the U.S. crop. Michigan ranks second in dry bean production for 1997 as North Dakota placed first with 6,890,000 (cwt.).

Michigan's ideal planting weather allowed growers to get the dry bean crop in with more long season varieties than the previous year. The crop fared well with variable rainfall through the summer growing season. Excessive rainfall on September 9 and 10 combined with cool conditions caused damage to the navy beans. Harvest started late but finished ahead of schedule with good weather at the end of September and the beginning of October. Yields for all dry beans averaged 1,650 pounds per acre, up 200 pounds from 1996.

Michigan continues to lead the country in Navy bean production accounting for 42 percent of the national total. Also, Michigan leads the nation in Black and Cranberry bean production. The fertile soils of the Bay-Thumb area and Saginaw Valley are particularly well suited for growing dry beans. Michigan dry beans are available worldwide and are especially popular in the United Kingdom and gaining popularity in Mexico. They are and will continue to be an important and valuable commodity to Michigan agriculture.

Table 6.2 Beans, dry: Stocks in commercial elevators, Michigan
Year and month Navy All other Total
1,000 cwt.
December 31
    1993
3,550 950 4,500
    1994
2,150 1,075 3,225
    1995
2,800 2,000 4,800
    1996
3,400 1,550 4,950
     1997
2,850 1,770 4,550
August 31
    1993
1,370 80 1,450
    1994
830 120 950
    1995
370 300 670
    1996
1,400 700 2,100
     1997
1,530 240 1,770

Table 6.3 Beans, dry: Area, yield, and production, Michigan
Class Year Area
planted
Area
harvested
Yield per
harvested
acre
Production
Acres Acres Pounds 1,000 cwt.
Black
1993 58,000 57,000 1,700 970
1994 78,000 75,000 1,320 990
1995 89,000 88,000 1,930 1,700
1996 60,000 57,000 1,650 940
1997 80,000 78,000 1,790 1,400
Cranberries
1993 35,500 32,000 1,660 530
1994 30,000 28,000 1,290 360
1995 28,000 27,000 1,740 470
1996 27,000 25,000 1,600 400
1997 32,000 31,000 1,680 520
Navy
1993 260,000 255,000 1,590 4,060
1994 230,000 210,000 1,310 2,750
1995 220,000 218,000 1,810 3,950
1996 210,000 200,000 1,400 2,800
1997 150,000 145,000 1,600 2,320
Pinto
1993 6,500 6,500 1,460 95
1994 5,000 5,000 1,200 60
1995 4,000 4,000 1,750 70
1996 9,000 8,000 1,500 120
1997 10,000 10,000 1,700 170
Red kidney, dark
1993 11,500 11,000 1,450 160
1994 21,000 18,000 1,280 230
1995 16,000 15,000 1,400 210
1996 11,000 9,000 1,110 100
1997 12,000 11,500 1,300 150
Red kidney, light
1993 13,000 13,000 1,380 180
1994 14,000 13,000 1,310 170
1995 12,000 12,000 1,670 200
1996 12,000 10,000 1,400 140
1997 14,000 14,000 1,640 230
Small red
1995 9,000 9,000 1,780 160
1996 3,000 3,000 1,170 35
1997 10,000 9,000 1,670 150
Small white
1993 1,500 1,500 1,330 20
1994 1,000 1,000 1,000 10
1995 1,000 1,000 1,500 15
1996 -- -- -- --
1997 -- -- -- --
Others
1993 4,000 4,000 1,630 65
1994 11,000 10,000 1,100 110
1995 11,000 11,000 1,410 155
1996 8,000 8,000 1,310 105
1997 7,000 6,500 1,430 93
Total
1993 390,000 380,000 1,600 6,080
1994 390,000 360,000 1,300 4,680
1995 390,000 385,000 1,800 6,930
1996 340,000 320,000 1,450 4,640
1997 315,000 305,000 1,650 5,033

Corn

Michigan had 2.6 million acres planted to corn in Michigan in 1997, down 50,000 acres from 1996. Grain corn production in Michigan was 263.2 million bushels, up 22 percent from 1996; 2.25 million acres were harvested for grain. The yield of 117 bushels per acre was up from 94 bushels the previous year. It tied the record high yield set in 1994. Farmers harvested 320,000 acres of corn for silage with an average yield of 14.5 tons per acre.

Corn planting progressed rapidly in late April and early May. It was slowed, however, by the cold, wet conditions of mid and late May. The record cold May temperatures stymied emergence and early growth. Development was behind normal throughout June and July. Moisture stress occurred in the southeast, but nowhere was drought the disastrous problem it was in 1996. Corn for grain harvesting began about mid-October, and was behind a normal schedule throughout the season. The high moisture content caused producers to delay harvest. Harvest ran 2-4 weeks behind normal; by mid-December only 93 percent of the crop was harvested.

The 1997 corn crop was valued at $671 million, up 17 percent from 1996. Corn continued to be Michigan's number one crop in acreage planted and value of production. The top five counties in corn production in 1997 were Huron, Lenawee, Tuscola, St. Joseph, and Gratiot.

Table 6.4 Corn for grain: Stocks by quarter
Crop
year
December 1 March 1 June 1     September 1
On
farm
Off
farm
On
farm
Off
farm
On
farm
Off
farm
On
farm
Off
farm
1,000 bushels
1993
150,000 58,033 80,000 50,792 41,000 30,647 15,000 8,629
1994
160,000 64,361 105,000 51,276 60,000 31,484 21,000 11,016
1995
130,000 63,494 65,000 48,336 28,000 20,780 7,000 4,352
1996
125,000 49,882 65,000 36,842 36,000 16,748 11,000 5,445
1997
150,000 55,615 80,000 53,870 46,000 30,017

MI Corn Yields Chart, 1925-97

Hay

Michigan hay production was estimated at 3.8 million tons, down 10 percent from 1996. Alfalfa and alfalfa mixtures accounted for 81 percent of all dry hay produced. All hay harvested acres, at 1,250,000, were down 4 percent from the previous year. The average all hay yield was 3.01 tons per acre, down 0.21 tons from 1996. As with the previous year the crop suffered from a cool spring and late summer. First cutting was delayed due to record cold May temperatures and yields on subsequent cuttings were reduced because of the dry weather. Alfalfa and alfalfa mixtures accounted for 900,000 acres of the total with a yield of 3.4 tons per acre. Other hay accounted for 350,000 acres with a yield of 2 tons per acre. Value of the hay crop was $378.5 million, down 15 percent from a year earlier.

Table 6.5 Hay: Stocks on farms
Year May 1 December 1
1,000 tons
1994
753 3,020
1995
1,074 3,166
1996
754 2,514
1997
460 2,000
1998
402

Maple Syrup

Michigan maple syrup production was estimated at 55,000 gallons for the 1998 season, 20,000 gallons below the 1997 harvest. Overall, this was one of the poorest syrup years in history. The weather affected production over the entire state. "El Nino" caused sap to start flowing in southern Michigan in mid-February, more than two weeks earlier than last year. This flow then decreased due to insufficient temperature differential between night and day, and cooler freezing weather after the sap started to flow. The warm winter and early spring shortened the season. The average price received per gallon was $29.40 compared with $31.50 last year. Total value of production was estimated at $1.6 million, down 32 percent from last spring. Michigan ranked eighth in maple production in 1998, down from seventh last year, and produced about 5 percent of the total US production.

Table 6.6 Maple syrup: Production and Price.
Year Production Price
received
Value of production
Gallons Dollars 1,000 dollars
1994
85,000 29.30 2,491
1995
55,000 26.90 1,480
1996
88,000 31.10 2,737
1997
75,000 31.50 1,913
1998
55,000 29.40 1,617

Potatoes

Michigan's 1997 potato production increased 3 percent from 1996 to 14.25 million hundredweight (cwt.). The state's average yield was 300 cwt. per acre for the third straight year, unchanged since 1994's yield of 270 cwt. per acre. Planted acres were 48,000 and harvested acres were 47,500. Weather conditions during harvest were excellent leaving only 500 acres unharvested. Favorable conditions during the growing season resulted in some outstanding yields. Montcalm, St. Joseph, and Bay counties continued as the leading counties in potato acreage.

Michigan ranked 9th among states in potato production in 1997. Most Michigan potatoes are whites, which comprise 72 percent of planted acreage, followed by russets and reds which comprise 27 and 1 percent of planted acreage, respectively. Whites are sold for fresh table use or processed for potato chips while russets are used for french fries and other frozen products.

Table 6.7 Potatoes: Production and disposition
Year Production Total used for seed 1 Used on farm where grown Sold
For seed, feed, and household use Shrink
and
loss
1,000 cwt.
1993
15,280 1,053 250 1,230 13,800
1994
14,040 963 174 1,350 9,786
1995
16,350 962 168 690 15,492
1996
13,800 784 300 1,300 12,200
1997
14,250 (2) (2) (2) (2)
1 Includes seed purchased and seed used on farms where grown.
2 Not available at publication time.

Table 6.8 Potatoes: Stocks
Crop year December 1 January 1 February 1 March 1 April 1 May 1
1000 cwt.
1993
7,300 5,800 4,400 3,100 1,800 700
1994
8,000 6,500 5,000 4,000 2,500 1,200
1995
9,600 8,300 6,500 4,800 2,700 1,200
1996
8,000 6,600 4,600 3,300 1,900 1,000
1997
8,500 7,000 5,500 4,200 2,600 1,200

Table 6.9 Potatoes: Stocks by type, 1993-97
Type 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997
White
Percent of total stocks, December 1
70 70 78 78 72
Russet
30 30 20 19 27
Red
-- 3 2 3 1

Small Grains

Barley

Barley growers planted 26,000 acres in 1997 and harvested 24,000 acres compared with 28,000 acres planted and 25,000 acres harvested in 1996. Total production, 1.4 million bushels, was up 20 percent from the previous year. The average yield increased 25 percent to 60 bushels per acre from 1996. Excellent planting conditions allowed farmers to get Michigan's barley crop in on schedule. The crop had excellent growing conditions due to a cool spring and mild summer temperatures.

Oats

After a three-year decline oat acreage in Michigan rose in 1997. Growers planted 100,000 acres of oats in 1997 compared with 70,000 a year earlier. Harvested acres, at 90,000, rose 50 percent from last year's level, which was the lowest since records started in 1866. The 1997 oat production was 5.5 million bushels, up 53 percent from the previous year. Yields were up 1 bushel from 1996, at 61 bushels per acre. The crop benefited from an early planting and a mild summer. Sanilac county ranked first in oat production for 1997, while Huron and Alpena rank second and third, respectively.

Rye

Planted acres of rye totaled 80,000 in 1997, unchanged from 1996. In Michigan rye is primarily used as a winter cover crop so only 16,000 acres were harvested for grain. Rye production was estimated at 416,000 bushels, up 19 percent from a year earlier. Yield averaged 26 bushels per acre compared with 27 bushels per acre in 1996.

Wheat, winter

Michigan's 1997 winter wheat crop totaled 33.5 million bushels, up 40 percent from 1996. Planted acres were down 150,000 from the previous year to 550,000. Harvested acreage fell 90,000 from 1996 to 540,000. The average yield rose 63 percent to 62 bushels per acre, a record high. There was little winter damage. The cool spring minimized disease problems; moisture was adequate for heading. Harvest weather was excellent. The value of the crop increased 18 percent, as the increase in output more than offset the $.61 price drop to $3.30 per bushel. Sanilac, Huron, Lenawee, Monroe, and Saginaw were the top five counties in wheat production.

Table 6.10 Small grains: Stocks by quarter
[Includes interior mills, elevators, warehouses, cereal food processing plants, census merchant mills, terminal and C.C.C. bins]
Item Crop
year
September 1 December 1 March 1 June 1
On
farm
Off
farm
On
farm
Off
farm
On
farm
Off
farm
On
farm
Off
farm
1,000 bushels
Wheat
1993 3,500 15,186 1,600 14,360 800 9,469 300 5,120
1994 3,500 20,506 1,500 17,803 800 13,554 500 6,556
1995 1,800 23,892 1,300 16,380 700 10,869 300 4,531
1996 2,300 12,963 1,300 9,952 800 9,108 400 5,235
1997 2,700 18,750 1,900 16,005 1,200 11,035 500 6,223
Oats
1993 3,500 2,606 3,000 2,476 2,200 1,671 1,200 1,128
1994 2,500 1,984 2,300 1,704 1,800 1,200 1,000 657
1995 2,000 1,708 1,700 1,338 1,200 980 700 441
1996 1,500 717 1,300 590 1,000 981 500 463
1997 2,500 1,661 1,800 1,378 (1) -- (1) 1,095
Barley
1993 -- 291 -- 156 -- 66 -- --
1994 -- 143 -- 115 -- 73 -- 32
1995 -- 69 -- 25 -- 42 -- 26
1996 -- -- -- 9 -- -- -- 31
1997 -- 139 -- 128 -- -- -- 81
1 On farm oat stocks not published to avoid disclosure of individual operations.

Table 6.11 Grain storage: Michigan
Year Off farm On farm
capacity
Facilities Rated
capacity
Number 1,000 bushels 1,000 bushels
1993
300 147,000 260,000
1994
295 143,000 260,000
1995
293 146,000 250,000
1996
292 146,000 240,000
1997
289 146,000 250,000

Soybeans

Michigan soybean production totaled 72.8 million bushels, up 56 percent from 1996, setting a new record high. The yield was a 38.5 bushels per acre in 1997, up 10 bushels from 1996. Planted and harvested acres were both up 250,000 acres to 1.9 million and 1.89 million, respectively. Low temperatures and much rain slowed spring planting. Mid summer warmed allowing the crop to progress nicely. Early fall, the crop lagged behind normal with cooler weather. The late season brought more rain and harvest was extended due to slow dry down of the crop. The total crop value of $476.6 million, was an increase of 43 percent from 1996. Lenawee, Saginaw, and Sanilac were the top counties in soybean production, with Monroe and Gratiot rounding out the top five.

Table 6.12 Soybeans: Stocks by quarter
Crop
year
December 1 March 1 June 1 September 1
On
farm
Off
farm
On
farm
Off
farm
On
farm
Off
farm
On
farm
Off
farm
1,000 bushels
1993
12,000 15,984 8,500 9,227 3,500 4,911 850 945
1994
17,500 19,121 9,800 10,188 6,000 5,142 2,200 1,532
1995
14,000 18,888 10,000 9,836 3,300 4,489 900 1,186
1996
12,000 15,068 7,000 8,642 3,000 2,767 700 865
1997
19,000 20,931 12,000 10,646 4,000 4,677

Sugarbeets

Acres planted to sugarbeets in Michigan increased 7 percent in 1997, to 163,000 acres planted. Harvested acreage, at 160,000, increased 23 percent from the previous year. The crop benefitted from an early planting in April, cool May temperatures, timely rains and relatively cool temperatures during the growing season, and ideal harvesting conditions. Yields averaged 19.0 tons per acre compared with 15.1 tons per acre in 1996. The 1997 yield was the highest since 1990. Total tonnage increased 55 percent from 1996, to 3.04 million tons. Huron and Tuscola were the top sugarbeet producing counties for 1997.