Last week brought scattered rains but many crops were still looking for moisture as warm temperatures and winds dried fields quickly, according to Marlo D. Johnson, director of the Great Lakes Regional Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service. There were 5.4 days suitable for fieldwork in Michigan during the week ending Sunday. The Central Lower Peninsula was abnormally dry and counties in East Central Michigan and the Thumb Region were in moderate drought, according to the latest US Drought Monitor.
Oat and barley harvest progress was following the previous year pace, but dry bean development was trending behind. Corn kernels looked smaller than normal in some areas of the Southeast; it was too early to tell if soybeans were also affected by the dry summer. Alfalfa and other hay third cutting progressed ahead of average, and fourth cutting was under way. Pest activity was trending lower than previous years. Other activities during the week included spraying pesticides, hauling manure, and preparing for silage harvest.
A somewhat warmer week, coupled with little rain had producers hoping for some precipitation soon. Peach harvest was in full swing across the State with excellent quality and quantity reported. Harvest has been very smooth to date. Brown rot and peach scab were common in orchards with inadequate spray programs. Early apple harvest continued; Premier Honeycrisp and Jonathan for caramel apple production were harvested in the Southwest. Harvest of standard strains of Honeycrisp and Gala were expected to begin in a few weeks. Blueberry harvest in the Southwest was wrapping up.
Consistent dry and moderate drought conditions made for a superb vegetable season in the East thus far into the year. Other areas of the State received fairly well-timed rains, although some received too much. New asparagus shoots were coming up due to the recent rain, and purple spot was continuing to develop. Disease presence was also detected on broccoli and peppers, prompting growers to take appropriate steps to protect their crops. Meanwhile, tassel ears were found in some sweet corn fields, and onion harvest continued smoothly. Potato harvest was also progressing nicely, with yields being above average and no late blight having been reported in Michigan to date. In the West Central region, carrots were doing well thanks in part to favorable temperatures, and harvest was underway in the East.
Categories: Michigan, Crops, Corn, Soybeans, Harvesting, Weather