By Andi Anderson
Farmers across Michigan took advantage of nearly six suitable fieldwork days last week, allowing planting activity for corn and soybeans to accelerate significantly.
According to the latest Crop Progress report from the USDA, corn planting reached 47% completion by May 17, marking a 30% increase from the previous week and putting the state within 5% of its five-year average.
Soybean planting also advanced quickly, climbing from 12% completed to 37% in just one week. However, soybean progress still trails the historical average by 9%.
“The stretch of drier and warmer weather we had not only gave farmers a chance to get seed in the ground but it also caused some of the earlier planted corn and soybeans to finally emerge,” said Theresa Sisung, commodity and regulatory relations manager for Michigan Farm Bureau.
Soil moisture conditions improved as well during the week. Topsoil moisture surplus declined to 9%, half of the previous week’s level, while subsoil surplus dropped 11% to 10%.
Despite the recent progress, Michigan still ranks last nationally for soybean planting and second to last for corn planting, ahead of only Pennsylvania.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-frankoppermann
Categories: Michigan, Crops, Corn, Soybeans