Michigan Ag Connection - Michigan Asparagus Harvest Winding Down

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Michigan Asparagus Harvest Winding Down
Michigan Ag Connection - 06/19/2018

There were 5.6 days suitable for fieldwork in Michigan during the week ending Sunday, according to Marlo Johnson, Director of the Great Lakes Regional Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service. Rains during the week caused standing water in fields in the Upper Peninsula. In the other areas, more rain would have been helpful. Crops and the pasture were in need of rain. Soils were getting dry, grass was browning up, but the light rains did provide some crop relief.

Barley continued to progress despite the dry conditions. Corn planting was nearly complete, with the crop starting to enter the next growing stages. Soybeans were spotty in certain areas of the State due to dry weather.

In other areas of the State, the soybeans were enjoying the weather. Oats heading made good progress.

Dry bean planting progressed nearly 20 percent, but remained behind the previous year and 5-year average. Winter wheat was showing stress in mid-Michigan, but was doing well and disease free in other areas.

Hay first cutting was progressing with second cutting not too far behind. Other activities included weed spraying and fertilizer applications.

Cooler temperatures and rain showers brought some relief to fruit growers in the Southwest, while orchards in other parts of the State remained on the dry side. Most growers have finished thinning apple and pear orchards, with only minimal hand-thinning remaining. Apple growth is progressing rapidly across the State from 13 millimeters in diameter in the Northwest up to 38 millimeters in diameter in the Southwest. Pears ranged from 19 to 24 millimeters in diameter, while peaches ranged from 21 to 30 millimeters in diameter.

Growth in sweet and tart cherries has slowed as the fruits matured; fruit drop continued for both sweets and tarts, with harvest expected to begin soon for sweets.

Strawberry harvest began across the State; berries in Central Michigan were reported as good quality, but small in size, while growers in the Southwest and East reported some misshapen fruits from too much heat. Raspberries continued to grow rapidly, with some beginning to put on green fruits. Blueberries started to set fruit and were reported to be sizing rapidly in the Southwest, while little growth occurred in the East; winter damage has become more apparent in blueberry fields.

Juice grapes have passed full bloom while wine grapes were at mid-bloom.

Pea harvest was underway in the Southwest region. Potatoes were making good progress with most early planted fields blooming. Harvest of zucchini and squash is expected to begin soon. Asparagus harvest in the West was winding down. Carrots continued to progress nicely as growers were focusing on irrigation and spraying programs. Pepper planting was wrapping up on some farms in the Southeast.

Pumpkins were emerging with good stands although pest pressure is expected to increase in the coming weeks.

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