By Andi Anderson
The Michigan harvest season is encountering significant challenges, primarily due to excessive rain and surplus moisture. Harvest efforts have been hampered by the persistently wet conditions, leaving a mere 2.7 days suitable for field work, according to the latest crop progress report from USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.
The corn harvest for grain in Michigan made slow progress, adding a mere 6%, reaching an overall completion rate of 30% for the week ending October 29. Compared to the five-year average, the corn harvest is lagging by 11%. Among the 18 major corn-growing states still reporting, Michigan ranks ahead of only Ohio (29%), following Pennsylvania (37%) and Wisconsin (35%), both of which made substantial gains last week. The national average stands at 71% harvested, exceeding the historical average by 5%.
Michigan's corn conditions witnessed a 5% drop in the crop listed as good or excellent last week, falling to 51%. Meanwhile, 38% was reported as fair, and 11% as poor or very poor.
Soybean conditions in the state also worsened, with 18% of the crop listed as poor or very poor, a 6% increase from the previous week. Additionally, 48% of soybeans were considered good or excellent, with the remaining 36% rated as fair. Michigan saw a 12% increase in soybean harvesting last week, reaching a 55% completion rate, which lags 10% behind the historical average.
Michigan currently holds the second-to-last position for soybean harvest among the 18 states that harvested 96% of the 2022 soybean acreage. Only North Carolina (34%) reported lower numbers. At the national level, the soybean harvest stood at 85%, marking a 9% increase compared to the previous week and exceeding historical averages by 9%.
Notably, both corn for grain and soybean moisture levels continue to surpass their respective five-year averages, as reported by Marlo D. Johnson, the Director of the NASS Great Lakes Regional Office. Corn for grain's moisture content at harvest remains at 27%, which is 5% higher than the historical average. In contrast, soybean moisture content was reported at 17%, indicating a 2% increase from the five-year average.
Surplus topsoil and subsoil moisture readings have seen significant increases over the past week. Approximately 48% of the state reported surplus topsoil moisture, marking a 14% increase from the previous week. Meanwhile, surpluses for subsoil moisture increased by 9%, reaching 21% overall.
The sugarbeet harvest continues to struggle under the wet conditions but managed to increase by 10%. With an overall completion rate of 32%, sugarbeet harvest is trailing the five-year average by 25%.
Winter wheat planting witnessed a 13% increase last week, reaching 69%, yet it still lags behind the historical average by 16%.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-jessicahyde
Categories: Michigan, Crops, Wheat, Harvesting