Weather conditions were varied across the State, according to Marlo D. Johnson, director of the Great Lakes Regional Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service. There were 5.0 days suitable for fieldwork in Michigan during the week ending Sunday. Rain events were sporadic throughout the State but abnormally dry weather continued across the Northwest and Central Lower Peninsula. Gratiot County was reported as in moderate drought from the US Drought Monitor.
Winter wheat harvest continued. Oat conditions improved after rain in the Southeast. Corn and soybeans in the South Central were showing moisture stress but perked up after passing showers. Alfalfa and other hay second cutting was being reported as short to average due to the dry weather. Disease and pest activity have been reported as low.
Other activities during the week included preparing combines and grain carts for wheat harvest, side dressing fertilizer, and spraying pesticides.
A slightly cooler week coupled with some much needed rain were welcomed by fruit growers. Additional precipitation was still needed due to dry soil conditions but passing showers last week helped fruit to continue to size well. Fruit crop potential remained very good across the State. Japanese beetle pressure increased. Spotted wing drosophila catch numbers increased.
Early season peach variety harvest continued in the Southwest.
Apples were sizing well across the State; Honeycrisp were 43 mm and Gala were 40 mm in the Northwest.
Tart cherry harvest continued in the Southwest and began in the Northwest. Harvested fruit was reported to be of excellent quality and was pitting well at processors.
Blueberry harvest was in full swing. Early fruit size was good. Growers continued to irrigate to ensure subsequent pickings had adequate fruit size. The weather was conducive for pickers to harvest large volumes of fruit in a short time period.
Due to below-average precipitation this growing season, irrigation has been a major focus for vegetable producers throughout the State. Parts of Michigan did receive some rain recently, which was strong enough to knock flowers off of peppers in some areas. Insect presence was reported on several crops, including celery and zucchini, with growers applying pesticides to mitigate the damage.
Harvest of cantaloupes and sweet onions was beginning on some farms while cucumbers and turnips were making progress. Meanwhile, pumpkins were starting to flower in the West Central region. The forecast for late blight was low for Michigan potato crops, and no late blight had been reported in the State to date.
Categories: Michigan, Crops, Wheat, Harvesting, Weather