Weather conditions continued to be mostly dry across the State, according to Marlo D. Johnson, director of the Great Lakes Regional Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service. There were 6.3 days suitable for fieldwork in Michigan during the week ending Sunday.
Many counties in the Northwest and Central Lower Peninsula experienced abnormally dry weather. Winter wheat reached maturity and changed colors with the heat. Oats continued to need moisture but were not in critical condition. Corn began to roll leaves due to arid conditions in some areas. Dry bean and soybean emergence progressed towards completion, while weed control was in full swing. Alfalfa and other hay second cutting growth slowed but there were several opportunities to make dry baled hay.
Other activities during the week included preparing combines and grain carts, side dressing fertilizer, and spraying pesticides.
A cooler week punctuated by scattered storms on Tuesday and Wednesday were a welcome relief to very hot temperatures the week prior. Soil conditions were still dry and growers that had irrigation equipment ensured it was running well in preparation for using it soon. Codling moth, oriental fruit moth and obliquebanded leaf roller were all caught in traps. Second generation codling moth flights also began.
Pit hardening on peaches in the Southwest was complete. Hand thinning was complete in most orchards. Harvest of very early varieties began. In the West Central, growers continued to hand thin peaches. Peaches ranged from 35-40 mm there.
Tart cherry harvest neared in the Southwest. Harvest was anticipated to begin just about July 4 there. In the Northwest, tart cherries were coloring. The crop appeared to be heavy with some concern expressed from growers about getting the crop ripe with fewer than normal leaves. In the West Central, tarts were coloring and growers were determining when to apply Ethrel.
Early blueberry varieties in the Southwest were coloring and harvest began. Fruit set was very good. Apples in the Northwest were sizing very well with Gala at 27 mm and Honeycrisp at 30 mm. Fruit thinning went very well and most growers were happy with crop load. Apples on the Ridge ranged from 30-40 mm with early varieties exceeding 40 mm. Crop potential was very good. In the West Central, apples ranged from 35-40 mm with early varieties like Zestar exceeding 40 mm.
Hot and dry weather throughout the State caused moisture stress to various vegetable crops and stunted growth in others. Among the impacted crops were broccoli, green beans, and potatoes. Early sweet corn was tasseling, and garlic tops were yellowing with maturity. Field peppers and tomatoes were setting fruit, with some growers almost ready to start early harvest of protected spring plantings.
Harvest was proceeding smoothly for summer squash and cucumbers, though severe cucumber beetle scarring was detected in some areas. Meanwhile, carrots and red beets were starting to be pulled, and kale harvest was underway in the Southwest.
In the West Central region, asparagus harvest had just about concluded, with many farms reporting above-average yields.
Categories: Michigan, Crops, Soybeans, Harvesting, Weather