Michigan Crop Weather Report - October 22, 2023

Wednesday, October 25, 2023

The latest Michigan Crop Weather Report for the week ending October 22, 2023, reveals the ongoing challenges posed by wet and cool weather conditions on field crop harvest and the apple harvest. Marlo D. Johnson, Director of the Great Lakes Regional Office of the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, provided the following insights:

Field Crops:

Wet and cool weather persisted, resulting in slow field crop harvest progress.
Only 2.7 days were suitable for fieldwork during the week, limiting the opportunities for harvest.
The sugarbeet harvest faced delays due to muddy conditions and unseasonably warm temperatures that hindered long-term piling.
Moisture content remained higher than the five-year averages for both corn for grain and soybeans, with corn at 27 percent moisture (5 points above the average) and soybeans at 16 percent moisture (1 point above the average).
Harvest of corn for silage and dry beans was nearing completion.
Winter wheat planting was significantly delayed due to delays in the soybean and dry bean harvest.
Other agricultural activities included tending to livestock, grain hauling, and planting cover crops.

Fruit:

The apple harvest continued, with a focus on varieties such as Evercrisp, Rome, and Braeburn in the Southwest region.
Fruit quality remained generally good, with minimal watercore issues reported.
Weather conditions were favorable for harvesting apples.
The Ridge region was approaching the end of apple harvest, with only a few late varieties remaining for harvest.
In the West Central region, growers harvested Idared, Mutsu, and Fuji, with EverCrisp and Pink Lady also mature and harvested for long-term storage. These apples remained firm, with excellent sugar content.

Temperature, Precipitation, and Growing Degree Days (GDD): The report provides detailed temperature and precipitation data for various regions of Michigan, along with Growing Degree Days (GDD) based on a 50-degree Fahrenheit base. The report covers Upper Peninsula, Northwest LP, Northeast LP, West Central LP, Central LP, East Central LP, Southwest LP, South Central LP, and Southeast LP.

Michigan's agriculture sector continues to adapt and make progress in both field crop and fruit harvest activities, ensuring the state's agricultural productivity.

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