First Corn of the Year Planted in Oceana County

Rain continued to saturate fields across much of the State, keeping producers from fieldwork, according to Marlo D. Johnson, director of the Great Lakes Regional Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service. There were 2.5 days suitable for fieldwork in Michigan during the week ending Sunday.

Cooler temperatures and rainfall continued most of the week. A few counties in the Northern Lower Peninsula reported warm and dryer conditions, which allowed some progress in planting oats and potatoes.

Abnormally dry areas in the Upper Peninsula included Chippewa and Mackinac counties.

In the Lower Peninsula, there are reports that winter wheat was slowly breaking dormancy.

The first corn of the year was planted in Oceana County.

Sugarbeet and soybean planting progressed throughout the thumb region.

Other activities during the week included spring tillage and fertilizing while waiting for soils to dry up.

Despite another cool week, fruit development progressed albeit slowly.

Apples in the Southwest ranged from tight cluster to king bloom. In the Northwest, the crop didn't progress much. Honeycrisp remained in green tip and Gala moved slightly from 0.25 inch green to 0.5 inch green. On the Ridge, apples were mostly in tight cluster, with early varieties at open cluster. In the West Central, apples ranged from green tip to tight cluster.

Tart cherries in the Southwest were in early bloom. In the Northwest, tart cherries were still in side green to bud burst.

Blueberries in the Southwest ranged from early pink bud to early bloom.

Peaches were blooming in the Southwest and bud swell to red calyx in the West Central.

Vegetable producers across the State were laying plastic and establishing rye windbreaks in anticipation of warmer weather.

Fieldwork on celery and onions was underway, although wet conditions slowed planting progress.

Early turnip and radish plantings were up and waiting on warmer weather to take off, and sweet corn was being seeded.

The delivery of sweet onion transplants to farms in the East was delayed, resulting in poor plant quality.

In the West Central region, asparagus growers were applying herbicides and expecting to start harvest soon.

Meanwhile, mulch was being laid in the Southwest to prepare for warm season vegetables like cucumbers, peppers, and squash.